Growing Fennel

Growing fennel is a treat if you like licorice but this herb is sometimes called celery herb because it resembles bulb celery or celeriac.

I also note if you grow it at the wrong time, it will develop seed stalks instead of nice foliage and bulbs. (The wrong time is sowing it so that it matures during hot weather. Either sow a little early (April 15 to May 15 in zone 4) or a little late.

Sow the seed directly into peat pots and only slightly cover this seed (no more than 1/4 inch deep. Germinate it at a 65-70F soil temperature and thin the seedlings to the single strongest plant in each pot. Grow the seedlings on at 60F (any warmer and the plants will start to stretch.)

In early June, transplant outside and if you have to grow more than a few plants, put them in rows approximately 8 inches apart in the row and 18 inches between rows.

Hill up the base of the bulb if you want to blanch the root; do this two to three weeks before harvest.

You can grow a late crop by sowing directly into the warm soil in the first week of July. Sow seeds one to the inch and then thin to 8 inches apart. Depth etc of the fennel seeds as above.

Harvesting is as simple as walking down the row and pulling (or digging) up any growing fennel bulb that is larger than two inches in diameter. I note the stems can be eaten and used as celery. Use the leaves in fish dishes and the seed in making bread.

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