Foeniculum vulgare Fennelfrom the family Apiaceae Herb of the month
"Fennel is a beautiful, aromatic herb that has been used throughout the ages to suppress hunger. Today, it is widely used as digestive aid and to make a medicinal tea. The whole plant is edible, even the flower, which has a light, sweet aniseed flavour and a slight crunch." Jekka McVicar
Use fennel seed in sauces, fish dishes and bread; the leaves can be finely chopped over salads & cooked vegetables; add young stems to salads for an extra crunch.
Fennel
Bronze fennel seed head
Fennel grows wild in Europe
and in most temperate countries, and is naturalized in the
Western USA.
The ancient Greeks used fennel as a slimming aid, and Roman ladies ate it to prevent obesity.
The ancient Greeks thought very highly of fennel and used it as a slimming aid and for treating more than 20 different illnesses. It was also much valued by the Romans - they ate leaf, root and seed in salads, and baked it in bread and cakes. In Anglo Saxon times, it was used on fasting days because, as the Greeks had already discovered, it stills pangs of hunger.
Don't plant fennel near coriander or dill, because the flavour
of both plants will be impaired, and cross pollination will reduce seed production.
Propagation
Seed: Sow all fennel varieties (see bottom of page for available varieties) in early spring in prepared pots or plug module trays, and cover with perlite.. A bottom heat of 15 - 21°C will speed germination. When large enough to handle, plant out. Also sow in autumn for winter salads.
Roots: Division of fennel is only really successful if you have a light sandy soil, when roots will divide easily. This should be done in the autumn.
Garden Cultivation: Fennel prefers to be planted in a sunny position, in fertile, well drained, loamy soil. If you're planting in clay soil, add an extra layer of sharp sand. Sow the seed after any danger of frost has passed, thinnig to 50cm apart. Do not grow near coriander or dill, as cross pollination will reduce seed production.
Fennel, grown in a hot, dry spot, will produce a sparse clump, 1.2 - 1.5m high, with very thin, highly aromatic leaves. In a decent garden soil, fennel will resemble a dome of green or purple candyfloss.
Florence fennel is grown only from seed. Sow in shallow trenches during the early summer in a rich, well-composted soil for the bulbous roots to reach maturity by autumn. Thin out to 20cm apart. Water well during dry spells. When the root swelling is around the size of a golf ball, blanch it by drawing some soil around it. When it reaches the size of a tennis ball, after 2 - 3 weeks, harvest.
Fennel seed head
Bronze fennel
Florence fennel is not grown here on the farm. However, we do supply three different varieties of organically grown fennel - see bottom of page for more details. We also grow Ferula communisGiant Fennel, but this is a different species, and not a culinary herb.
Container Growing: The bronze variety, Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum' Iooks especially attractive. Use a potting compost mixed in equal parts with composted fine bark. It may need staking when in flower. In the summer, shelter from midday sun, water and feed regularly. Repot each year to maintain health.
Harvesting: Pick young stems and leaves as required. Freeze leaves or infuse in oil or vinegar. Collect ripe seeds for sowing or to dry for culinary use. Dig up Florence fennel bulbs when sufficiently mature and as required.
Fennel Rubrum
Fennel leaf
Uses:
Culinary: Fennel is an additional seasoning for fat meats like pork, and stuffings for poultry and lamb. It is equally delicious as a salad or vegetable dressing. The seeds can be used in sauces, fish dishes and bread. The leaves can be finely chopped over salads, cooked vegetables and in soups. Young stems add an extra crunch to salads, and even the flowers can be used in salads, and combine well with fish and many vegetable dishes.
Medicinal: To make fennel tea, put a teaspoon of seeds in a teacup, add hot (not boiling) water, cover for five minutes, then strain. Drink to aid digestion, and prevent heartburn and constipation. A teaspoon of this cooled tea is good for babies with colic. Steep a compress in the tea and place on the eyelid to ease inflammation or watery eye.
Warning: Taken in large doses, the essence can cause convulsions and disturb the nervous system.
Fennel seed head
How to Order: we currently grow 3 varieties of Foeniculum vulgare Fennel, listed below.
