Annual Fennel

Annual Fennel — variety description

Annual Fennel (Foeniculum officinale) is a perennial herb of the Carrot family (Apiaceae). Wild dill, also known as fennel, is well known for its soft green leaves and heads of yellow, star-shaped flowers, followed by edible seeds.

Wild dill is well known as the stomach's best friend.

It is a highly aromatic herb with culinary and medicinal uses. It has a prominent place in Mediterranean cuisine, where the bulbs and leaves are used both raw and cooked, in side dishes, salads, pasta and vegetable dishes.

Fennel has an aniseed aroma: the leaves and seeds are a spice, and bulb fennel is also a delicate vegetable.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 76%
• Seeds per packet: 45–62 pcs (0.2 g)
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: March – May; direct or transplants
• Flowering: July and August
• Harvest: May – July
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Annual Fennel

Annual Fennel seeds are sown in March – May. The plants flower in July and August. The crop is harvested from May to July. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Annual Fennel

• Sowing method: direct or seedlings
• Depth: 1 cm
• Spacing: 30–40 cm
• Germination: 10–14 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

They can be sown at any time. For best results, sow immediately onto good soil compost. Cover the seeds with fine sand or compost to approximately their own depth. Dill is an annual plant of the family Apiaceae with a very short growing season. The dill root is thin and spindle-shaped; the stem is up to 150 cm tall, smooth and green, and the deeply cut leaves are needle-like, light to dark green; the stem and leaves have a waxy bloom that gives them a greyish tint. Mature plants are not especially demanding about moisture, but young ones need more water. Since dill seeds germinate 16-20 days after sowing, good and constant soil moisture is needed during this period for them to swell and sprout. Dill leaves are usually picked 30-40 days after sowing. The sign that it is ready is the appearance of 4 or 5 leaves. The leaves themselves are cut with scissors, although you can pluck them carefully. In large beds, whole stems are harvested.

Sow in spring in the sun, in rich, well-drained soil; water regularly.

Harvest and use

Pick the leaves through the season, and the seeds when they turn brown.

Frequently asked questions

When should Annual Fennel be sown?

The recommended sowing months are March – May. Sowing method: direct or seedlings.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 45–62 seeds, pack size 0.2 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 76%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.