What is the best month to plant fennel (sowing time and management methods of fennel)

Fennel is also called cumin. Here we call star anise big anise, aniseed, etc.

In fact, there is also a variety of fennel called aniseed. Fennel has shorter petioles, grows slowly, and bolts later in spring, while aniseed has longer petioles, grows faster, and bolts earlier in spring. In addition, there is a kind of spherical fennel, which swells into a spherical shape at the bottom.

Fennel is mainly cultivated as a vegetable. Its stems, leaves and seeds all have a special fragrance and are used as a seasoning or filling, such as for making dumplings, but I really can't stand its smell.

1. Which month is the best for sowing fennel?

In the northern region, the suitable sowing period of fennel is longer, and it can be sown from March in spring to September in autumn, while in the southern region, it is mostly sown in autumn.

2. Sowing and planting methods

Fennel seeds are similar to cumin, but have a different taste, size, and color. Fennel seeds are green and cumin seeds are yellow.

Soak the fennel seeds in cold water and scrub them. Take them out after soaking for a day and then germinate them. The temperature during germination should not be too high, about 20°C. When the seeds turn white, start sowing, either broadcasting or drilling.

3. Field management technology

After fennel seedlings emerge, thin them out in time. The plant spacing should be about 2-3 fingers, and the row spacing should be about 1 zhang. When thinning the seedlings, pull out the weeds at the same time.

During the growth period of the plant, pay attention to keeping the soil moist. When the seedlings are about half a foot tall, apply urea and other nitrogen fertilizers in combination with watering to promote the growth of stems and leaves. Generally, 20-30 kilograms of urea are applied per mu.

If you want to cut the stems and leaves to eat, instead of harvesting them all at once, then apply urea in time after each harvest. It is best to apply it once after each harvest.

4. Harvest in time

Fennel should be harvested when the seedlings are about 1.5 zhang tall, and fennel should be harvested when the seedlings are about 1 zhang tall.

Fennel seedlings can be harvested at one time, that is, by pulling out the roots, or they can be eaten in parts, leaving the small ones and pulling out the big ones, or they can be cut and eaten, and harvested multiple times.

When cutting seedlings, you can start cutting more than 1 flat finger above the ground. Wait until the seedlings grow another 1 flat finger before watering and fertilizing, otherwise the seedlings will rot.

Under normal circumstances, the seedlings can be cut 3-4 times in a row. They can overwinter in the open field and can be harvested 1-2 times in the second year. After that, they will bolt and are not suitable for consumption.

Although the amount of fennel consumed is not large, it is cultivated in groups here. I often see fennel seedlings in the vegetable garden, but I stay away from it because I really can't stand its strange smell, whether it is used as a seasoning or as a stuffing.