Biennial Fennel

Biennial Fennel: variety and characteristics

Biennial Fennel (Foeniculum officinale) is a perennial herb of the Carrot family (Apiaceae). This is a little-known and little-used spice, yet it can have wide application in both oriental and traditional Bulgarian cooking.

When fennel is raw, its aniseed flavour is very strong, but once cooked its aroma becomes much more delicate.

Fennel is added to pickles together with dill or as a substitute for it. It is very suitable for preparing fish dishes or various soups.

Fennel can be used to prepare marinades for meat and sauces.

It flavours potato dishes well.

It combines with parsley, garlic, dill and onion.

Tea made from fennel seeds relieves colic in babies and increases a mother's milk supply.

The herb has a soothing effect on bronchitis and coughs.

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: 80%
• Pack size: 1 g
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: March – May; direct or transplants
• Flowering: June – September
• Harvest: June – September
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Biennial Fennel

Biennial Fennel seeds are sown in March – May. The plants flower from June to September. The crop is harvested from June to September. 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 Biennial 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. Sowing depth – up to 2 cm. Sow in rows 60 cm apart. The plants will be thinned out later. It is super important to weed regularly around it, because weeds tend to smother and destroy it. You can feed it with ammonium nitrate. It will not harm its healthful qualities. 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 Biennial Fennel be sown?

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

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 80%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.