Fennel isn't for everyone. However, the trend is clearly towards the tuber. Accordingly, more and more gardeners are growing the delicious vegetables themselves.
Some people get a shiver down their spine when they hear the word fennel. No wonder, since we always had to drink fennel tea as children. However, anyone who still has an aversion to vegetables should know one thing: there is a world of difference between fennel tea and dishes made with fennel. So it's worth preparing the vegetables yourself. Just make a salad out of it or prepare the fennel as a side dish. It is also a delicious addition to soups, sauces and pasta. You will definitely see that this is a completely different taste experience.
If you like the tuber, you can grow the vegetable yourself in the garden. This is also very easy, because fennel is not particularly demanding. You only have to pay attention to a few small things so that the fennel grows the way you want it to.
General information about fennel
Did you know that fennel is one of the oldest spices in the world? Already 3000 BC The vegetable is said to have been used in Mesopotamia. Among other things, breastfeeding women were recommended to drink fennel tea to stimulate milk production. It has only been known since the Middle Ages that the tuber is great for indigestion. And even today, many still swear by the healing effect of stomach problems.
The tuber itself originally comes from the Mediterranean region and the Near East and can grow up to 100 centimeters in size. It consists of a bulb/tuber and stalks with leaves that look a lot like dill.
How to grow fennel correctly
If you've got the taste and want to grow fennel yourself, then you don't have to put in a lot of effort. Just do the following:
1It is always advisable to prefer fennel. At the beginning of April, put the fennel seeds in germination trays that you have filled with potting soil. Then germinate the seeds for three weeks at a temperature of 20 to 22 degrees Celsius.
2After these three weeks, the seedlings should be visible. You now have to prick them out and put them in small pots. The plants are then kept at around 15 degrees for about three weeksLet Celsius keep growing. Really make sure you reduce the temperature as this will keep the root necks from getting too long.
3When the three weeks are up, you can plant the plants in the garden. Since the plant originally comes from the Mediterranean region, it likes a sunny and warm location. The soil must also be rich in nutrients. It is therefore best to enrich it with some compost before planting.
4Now take the small plants and place them in grooves about 30 to 40 centimeters apart. The rows should also be about 40 centimeters apart. Then cover the plants with fleece or foil until there is no more frost.
By the way:
You can plant fennel next to cucumbers. These vegetables go well together. Tomatoes and fennel, on the other hand, are not good neighbors.
5Once the tuber has reached the size of a fist, you can harvest the aromatic vegetable. That should be around the beginning of August. Then take the fennel out of the ground quickly, because if it is left in the garden in its ripe state for too long, it can become lignified or burst.
How to properly care for the vegetables
The fennel likes the sun, but it can also suffer from it. For example, when the summer is generally much too dry and hot. Then you definitely need to water the vegetables regularly. To prevent the soil from drying out, you can also mulch the fennel bed with straw. Otherwise the fennel needs no further help to grow.