How to Grow Fennel
Instruction & Advice for Growing Fennel
in Your Vegetable Garden
| Nutrition | Watering Instructions | Harvesting |
| Climate | Fertilizing Instructions | Storage |
| Soil | Challenges | Tips |
| Planting |
*** Easy to Grow!***
Fennel is a perennial with feathery leaves. This garden herb has a delicate aniseed flavor and is often used to flavor fish dishes and soups. It grows up to 5 feet tall. The leaves can be used as a garnish. The swollen leaf base is eaten, and the seeds are used for flavoring.
As fennel plants are tall, consider the best location for them when planning in your garden (you may wish to plant it at the back). Also, since it's a perennial, you will want to plant it in an area that's convenient for allowing it to stay in that gardening location (it comes back every year).
If growing this vegetable in cooler climates, cut the plant down to about 8” tall in the fall to help it winter over and to prepare it to grow again in the spring.
Fennel is also known as a herb with carminative properties, meaning that it can ease bloating, flatulence, and digestive cramps. Fennel can also reduce body odor that originates in the intestines. Women who are breast feeding may find that eating fennel increases milk flow.
Nutrition Information:
Fennel contains: Dietary Fiber, Manganese, Folate, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Niacin, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Copper, Vitamin C.
Climate & Growing Conditions: (back to top)
Fennel thrives in hot, dry climates, but will grow in nearly all garden climates. It is a sunshine lover.
If you place your fennel in a spot that's succeptible to winds in your yard, you may want to stake it for support.
Gardening Advice Tip: Fennel has a reputation for hindering other plants' growth, so you may wish to place your fennel patch in an isolated location.
How to Prepare Garden Soil: (back to top)
Fennel will grow at it's best in soils with a garden pH of between 6.0 and 7.0. If the soil is too acidic, apply lime or dolomite, as directed on the package. (Instructions: How to test your garden soil pH level.)
Prepare the garden bed before planting by digging in compost and well-rotted manure. For success in gardening this vegetable, make sure that it's garden bed is well-drained.
How to Plant Fennel: (back to top)
For growing fennel in warm climates, plant in autumn. For growing fennel in colder climates, plant in the spring.
Pick a permanent place in the garden, as the plant self-sows for future crops. Plant seeds 2” deep in rows that are 20” apart.
When the fennel seedlings appear, thin to 18” apart.
Or, you can take root cuttings by lifting mature plants in the spring, take the cuttings, and replant.
How to Water: (back to top)
Do not water excessively.
Gardening Challenges: (back to top)
Fennel generally is problem free.
How to Harvest: (back to top)
Fennel plants take several months to grow to maturity.
Pick fresh leaves as needed.
Gather seed heads before they turn completely brown, and store in a cool shady place.
You can blanch the stalks by mounding dirt around them when they are 2” in diameter.
Storage: How to freeze Fennel (back to top)
Blanch fennel for 3 minutes and chill in iced water for 3 minutes. Drain fennel, pack in freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze fennel for up to 6 months.
Gardening Advice Tips (back to top)
Have a helpful gardening tip (or even a fun story) to share about your fennel growing experience? Share it with us at: gardeningtips@howtogardenadvice.com
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