Fennel

Foeniculum vulgare: Fennel is a hardy annual in the Apiaceae family, which includes parsnip, carrot, dill, chervil, coriander, parsley, and celery.

Two types are grown: bulbing and non-bulbing. Bulbing fennel produces large, sweet bulbs that taste of anise. Non-bulbing fennel is used as an aromatic cooking and medicinal herb.

Medicinal and Culinary Uses
Fennel is widely cultivated for its edible, strongly flavoured leaves and fruits. Its aniseed flavour comes from anethole, an aromatic compound also found in anise and star anise, and its taste and aroma are similar to theirs, though not as strong.

Florence fennel (F. vulgare var. azoricum) is a cultivar group with inflated leaf bases which form a bulb. It has a mild anise-like flavour, but is more aromatic and sweeter. Florence fennel plants are smaller than the wild type. Their inflated leaf bases are delicious when eaten both raw and cooked. Fennel is one of the three main herbs used in the preparation of absinthe, an alcoholic beverage which originated as a medicinal elixir in Switzerland.

Culinary uses
The bulb, foliage, and seeds of the fennel plant are widely used in many of the culinary traditions of the world. The small flowers of wild fennel (mistakenly known as fennel "pollen") are the most potent form of fennel, but also the most expensive. Dried fennel seed is an aromatic, anise-flavoured spice, brown or green in colour when fresh, slowly turning a dull grey as the seed ages. Fennel seeds are sometimes confused with those of anise, which are similar in taste and appearance, though smaller. The leaves are delicately flavoured and similar in shape to those of dill. The bulb is a crisp vegetable that can be sautéed, stewed, braised, grilled, or eaten raw. They are used for garnishes and to add flavor to salads.

Many egg, fish, and other dishes employ fresh or dried fennel leaves. Florence fennel is a key ingredient in some Italian and German salads, often tossed with chicory and avocado, or it can be braised and served as a warm side dish. It may be blanched or marinated, or cooked in risotto. In Spain the stems of the fennel plant are used in the preparation of pickled eggplants, "berenjenas de Almagro".

Medicinal uses
Fennel contains anethole, which can explain some of its medical effects. It, or its polymers, act as phytoestrogens.

Fennel is also used as a flavouring in some toothpastes (all of the French ones).

Cultivation Info
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Soil and Nutrient Requirements
 Fennel needs deep, well drained, moderately fertile soil with a pH from 6.1-8.0. It has a very deep taproot.
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Position
 Full Sun
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Seeding Depth
 1/4-1/2”
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Plant Spacing
   Direct seed at 2” and thin to 6-8"
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Row Spacing
 18”
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When to Sow
 Direct seed fennel mid-spring through late summer, or start transplants 4-5 weeks before planting date. Plant outdoors after danger of hard frost has passed. Bolting can result from disturbing the roots.
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Frost Tolerant
 Yes
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Drought Tolerant
 Yes.
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Heat Tolerant
 No
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Seed Specs
 7M seeds/oz avg. M=1,000
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Seeding Rate
 400 plants/100’ double row using 6” plant spacing; 58,100 plants/acre, using 6” plant spacing, 18” row spacing.
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Harvest
   Harvest bulbs at 3-4” in diameter.
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Storage
 Fennel is delicate and will dry out quickly in storage. Store in cooler as close to freezing as possible. Quality will keep for 3-4 days.
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Pest Info

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 * Aphids, whitefly and lepidopterous larvae can be controlled by floating row cover in areas where they are a problem.
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Disease Info

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 * Fungal leaf blights caused by Alternaria dauci or Cercospora carotae can cause severe defoliation and greatly reduce yields. Generally, cercospora blight appears earlier in the season than alternaria blight. Both these fungi are seed-borne but can also be spread by crop residue from previous years.
 * White mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) manifests as a cottony white mycelium around roots and lower plant parts, usually late in the season. Avoid planting in areas which are shady or have poor drainage, practice crop rotations with non-vegetable crops.

Organic Cultivars
Florence Fennechio
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F1 Orion

F1 Solaris

Sources & Further Info
High Mowing Organic Seeds

Johnny's Selected Seeds

Fedco Seeds

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds