Our grandmothers, growing garden strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, did not particularly worry about mulching. But today this agricultural technique has become fundamental in achieving High Quality berries and reducing crop losses. Some might say it's a hassle. But practice shows that labor costs in in this case pay off handsomely. In this article we invite you to get acquainted with the nine the best materials for mulching garden strawberries.
Succulents are very diverse. Despite the fact that “little ones” have always been considered more fashionable, the range of succulents with which you can decorate modern interior, it’s worth taking a closer look. After all, colors, sizes, patterns, degree of prickliness, impact on the interior are just a few of the parameters by which you can choose them. In this article we will tell you about the five most fashionable succulents that amazingly transform modern interiors.
The Egyptians used mint as early as 1.5 thousand years BC. It has a strong aroma due to the high content of various essential oils, which are highly volatile. Today, mint is used in medicine, perfumery, cosmetology, winemaking, cooking, ornamental gardening, and the confectionery industry. In this article we will look at the most interesting varieties of mint, and also talk about the features of growing this plant in open ground.
People began growing crocuses 500 years before our era. Although the presence of these flowers in the garden is fleeting, we always look forward to the return of the harbingers of spring to next year. Crocuses are one of the earliest primroses, whose flowering begins as soon as the snow melts. However, flowering times may vary depending on the species and varieties. This article is dedicated to the earliest varieties of crocuses, which bloom in late March and early April.
Cabbage soup made from early young cabbage in beef broth is hearty, aromatic and easy to prepare. In this recipe you will learn how to cook delicious beef broth and cook light cabbage soup with this broth. Early cabbage It cooks quickly, so it is placed in the pan at the same time as other vegetables, unlike autumn cabbage, which takes a little longer to cook. Ready cabbage soup can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Real cabbage soup turns out tastier than freshly prepared cabbage soup.
Blueberries are a rare and promising berry crop in gardens. Blueberries are a source of biologically active substances and vitamins, have antiscorbutic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, general strengthening properties. The berries contain vitamins C, E, A, flavonoids, anthocyanins, microelements - zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, as well as plant hormones - phytoestrogens. Blueberries taste like a mixture of grapes and blueberries.
Looking at the variety of tomato varieties, it’s hard not to get confused - the choice is very wide today. Even experienced gardeners are sometimes confused by it! However, understanding the basics of selecting varieties “for yourself” is not so difficult. The main thing is to delve into the peculiarities of the culture and start experimenting. One of the easiest groups of tomatoes to grow are varieties and hybrids with limited growth. They have always been valued by those gardeners who do not have much energy and time to care for their beds.
Once very popular under the name of indoor nettle, and then forgotten by everyone, coleus today is one of the brightest garden and indoor plants. It is not for nothing that they are considered stars of the first magnitude for those who are primarily looking for non-standard colors. Easy to grow, but not so undemanding as to suit everyone, coleus require constant monitoring. But if you take care of them, bushes made of velvety unique leaves will easily outshine any competitor.
Salmon backbone baked in Provençal herbs is a “supplier” of delicious pieces of fish pulp for light salad with fresh wild garlic leaves. The champignons are lightly fried in olive oil and then poured over apple cider vinegar. These mushrooms are tastier than regular pickled ones, and they are better suited for baked fish. Wild garlic and fresh dill get along well in one salad, highlighting each other’s aroma. The garlicky pungency of wild garlic will permeate both the salmon flesh and mushroom pieces.
Conifer tree or shrubs on the site is always great, but a lot of conifers is even better. Emerald needles of various shades decorate the garden at any time of the year, and phytoncides and essential oils released by plants not only aromatize, but also make the air cleaner. As a rule, most zoned adults coniferous plants, are considered very unpretentious trees and shrubs. But young seedlings are much more capricious and require proper care and attention.
Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics in the canopy flowering trees have long become an integral attribute of welcoming spring in the Land of the Rising Sun. Financial and academic year here it starts on April 1, when the magnificent cherry blossoms bloom. Therefore, many significant moments in the life of the Japanese take place under the sign of their flowering. But sakura also grows well in cooler regions - certain species can be successfully grown even in Siberia.
I am very interested in analyzing how people's tastes and preferences for certain foods have changed over the centuries. What was once considered tasty and was an item of trade, lost its value over time and, conversely, new fruit crops conquered their markets. Quince has been cultivated for more than 4 thousand years! And even in the 1st century B.C. e. About 6 varieties of quince were known, and even then methods of its propagation and cultivation were described.
Delight your family and prepare themed cottage cheese cookies in the shape of Easter eggs! Your children will be happy to take part in the process - sift the flour, combine all the necessary ingredients, knead the dough and cut out intricate figures. Then they will watch with admiration as the pieces of dough turn into real ones. Easter eggs, and then with the same enthusiasm they will eat them with milk or tea. How to make such original cookies for Easter, read our step by step recipe!
Among tuberous crops, there are not so many decorative deciduous favorites. And caladium is a true star among the variegated inhabitants of interiors. Not everyone can decide to own a caladium. This plant is demanding, and first of all, it requires care. But still, rumors about the extraordinary capriciousness of caladiums are never justified. Attention and care can avoid any difficulties when growing caladiums. And the plant can almost always forgive small mistakes.
We have prepared a hearty, incredibly appetizing and simply easy-to-prepare dish for you today. This sauce is one hundred percent universal, as it goes with every side dish: vegetables, pasta, or anything. Chicken and mushroom gravy will save you in moments when you don’t have time or don’t want to think too much about what to cook. Take your favorite side dish (you can do this in advance so everything is hot), add some gravy and dinner is ready! A real lifesaver.
Fennel is a healthy aromatic plant that is often used for medicinal purposes and is an ingredient in many dishes. You can grow this crop yourself on your own personal plot. We will tell you how to plant and grow fennel in this article.
Description of the crop and common varieties
Fennel is a perennial herbaceous plant from the Umbrella family. Despite the fact that the crop is a perennial, gardeners in our country prefer to grow it as an annual. The most popular variety of this plant is considered to be vegetable fennel, which has tasty fruits that are widely used in cooking.
The culture is a tall species; its erect stem can grow 2 m in height. Distinctive Features plants have powerful rhizomes, dense branching and the presence whitish coating on the green part of the bush. Fennel foliage resembles dill leaves in appearance and has a bright green tint. During the flowering period, the culture produces umbrella-type inflorescences covered with small yellow flowers.
As for the most common varieties of fennel, Russian gardeners prefer to grow the following types:
- The “Aroma” variety refers to mid-season crops, the seeds of which ripen approximately 75-78 days after planting the bush. The yield of the variety is 2-3 kg of fruits per 1 m² of planted area.
- "Leader" is an early ripening fennel variety. The height of its stem is 170-180 cm, the seeds of the crop ripen 40-50 days after planting.
- The variety “Udalets” belongs to mid-season and medium-growing crops, growing up to 60 cm in height. The weight of one fennel fruit of this variety is approximately 120 g.
- Among mid-season varieties we can highlight the fennel “Luzhnikovsky Semko”. Its fruits are quite large and weigh up to 220 g. The seeds of the plant ripen 75-80 days after planting.
- “Autumn Beauty” is an early ripening fennel with a ripening period of 37-40 days. The height of the stem of this plant reaches 1.5-1.8 m. The green foliage has a delicate, pleasant aroma.
Features of growing fennel
When cultivating fennel on your site, it is important to know some of the subtleties of growing this crop:
- In the garden or vegetable garden, it is better to place a bed with fennel separately from other plants. The culture should be well moistened and all care rules should be followed. If fennel does not have enough moisture or nutrients in its area, it will stretch its roots to beds with other plants.
- When growing fennel, it is important to know that it reproduces well by self-sowing.
- The crops with which fennel will be adjacent also matter. For example, plant it next to leguminous plants, tomatoes, peppers, cumin and spinach are undesirable, since fennel will oppress its neighbors. But it has a beneficial effect on the growth of cabbage and cucumbers, repelling aphids with its smell.
- When planting fennel near cucumbers, be sure to water both crops frequently.
- Fennel is considered a useful plant not only for human body, but also for the garden. The aroma of this plant during its flowering attracts pollinating insects to the site.
Growing fennel from seeds
A popular method of propagating fennel is sowing seeds. Germination rate seed material This culture is quite good and lasts 2-3 years after collection. Sometimes fennel is bred by root division, but this method is used extremely rarely due to its greater complexity and poorer survival rate.
You can plant fennel seeds in the soil twice a year: in early spring or autumn. The first planting occurs in April-May, the second in August-September. When planting, seeds are deepened into the ground by 2 cm. Fertilizers are first added to the soil: humus and slaked lime. The proportions of nutrients are approximately as follows: about 1 bucket of humus is added per 1 m² of land. You can also add mineral compounds to the soil, for example, 2 tbsp. superphosphate per 1 m² of land.
After the spring sowing of seeds, the bed is covered plastic film and leave it in this form until sprouts emerge from the soil. The film will help provide the seedlings with greenhouse conditions and sufficient humidity.
To grow fennel on a plot, it is important to choose high-quality seed material. You can buy seeds in a specialized store, where they most often offer two varieties of fennel: ordinary and vegetable. Ordinary or pharmaceutical fennel is grown for its seeds or herbs, while the vegetable variety has the most valuable heads of fruit, used for culinary purposes.
Fennel seeds germinate approximately 10 days after planting. Young shoots must be pruned, removing excess plants, then the remaining heads of cabbage will develop fully and the harvest will be of high quality.
After picking, the plants should be located at least 15 cm from each other. Sprouted stems need to be fertilized with mullein solution.
Fennel care
Timely and abundant watering is one of the the most important conditions growing such a crop. Fennel loves water and prefers well-moistened soil. If there is not enough moisture in the ground, the plants will begin to take root in neighboring beds, taking water away from other garden crops. It is also recommended to periodically loosen the soil around the fennel plantings, and to prevent water from evaporating from the soil too quickly, mulch the soil.
In order for fennel fruits to actively develop, at the beginning of summer the stems are periodically hilled, giving the roots access to oxygen. It is also recommended to fertilize fennel from time to time; a liquid solution of mullein or an infusion of green herbs is good for this purpose.
Growing fennel using seedlings
Some gardeners prefer not to sow seeds right away. open ground, and first grow seedlings in a greenhouse or greenhouse. Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out at the end of February or at the beginning of March. With this method, the emerging sprouts do not need to be pruned, but many gardeners advise carrying out at least one thinning immediately before planting the sprouts in open soil.
For vegetable fennel seedling method counts the best option, as it allows you to get an excellent harvest of fruits later. When planting seeds directly into a garden bed, fennel sometimes cannot form heads of cabbage because the daylight hours are not suitable for it. IN greenhouse conditions this factor can be adjusted independently, the plant will receive a sufficient amount of light, and the fruits will come out large.
When transplanting vegetable fennel seedlings into a garden bed, you need to maintain a distance of 40 cm between the sprouts. The principles of care in this case are no different from those described above. Fennel needs high-quality watering, loosening, and periodic feeding.
Fennel pests
If the summer is cold and rainy, fennel may be susceptible to gray mold. Fennel often suffers from attacks by caraway or carrot moths. Around May, the moth lays its larvae on plants, and by early summer they turn into caterpillars. The caterpillars actively eat the green parts and fruits of fennel, and also entangle the inflorescences with cobwebs. To get rid of moths, it is better to uproot damaged parts or even whole plants and burn them. Prevention of pests can include regular weeding, timely collection of seeds and treatment of plantings with special solutions.
Use of fennel for practical purposes
Fennel is often used in medicine due to its good medicinal properties. It is considered an anti-inflammatory and bactericidal agent and can act on the body as a diuretic and antioxidant. Among other things, fennel is used to treat helminthiasis, and its analgesic properties allow the culture to be used for a variety of diseases accompanied by pain and inflammation.
Fennel is used as part of complex therapy to treat bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. It is used for flatulence and intestinal colic in infants. Fennel helps dilate blood vessels, remove bile, treat urolithiasis, improve appetite and digestive tract function, eliminate constipation, diarrhea and dysbiosis.
People with gum disease and unpleasant smell mouth can be rinsed with fennel infusion. The aroma of this plant has a relaxing effect, relieves stress, calms the nerves, improves memory and concentration, tones the body and improves brain activity. Women during lactation take fennel to increase the amount breast milk, and men use this plant to combat potency problems. The restorative properties make it possible to use fennel in cosmetology, where it is included in anti-wrinkle products.
In the article we discuss fennel - preparation of the plant, beneficial properties, recipes. You will learn how fennel is useful, what it is, how to prepare salads, meat and vegetable dishes with it, and what parts of the plant can be eaten.
Seeds, herbs, and fennel root are used in cooking.
Fennel is perennial from the Umbrella family, which looks like dill, but tastes and aroma resembles anise.
Although all parts of the plant are edible, recipes for cooking with fennel include the bulb. The onion is added as a vegetable to meat and vegetable dishes, marinated, and made into broths and sauces.
How to eat fennel:
- The stems and leaves are used as an aromatic herb, which gives dishes a refreshing and sweet taste and decorates salads.
- The seeds are dried and added as a seasoning for baking baked goods and some confectionery products, as well as for meat dishes.
In addition to its culinary benefits, fennel has beneficial medicinal properties.. It has an expectorant and carminative effect, stimulates the intestines and activates the kidneys. Thanks to vitamins and flavonoids, the plant copes well with colds, flu and spring vitamin deficiency.
How to cook fennel at home
Before you cook fennel, be careful when purchasing it.. If you choose the wrong plant, it will quickly lose its aroma and brightness of taste. To prevent this from happening, follow our tips:
- Choose dense white tubers with bright, lush greens.
- Sniff the product - the aroma should be fresh and slightly aniseed.
- Store fennel in paper bags no longer than 5 days in the refrigerator.
Also keep in mind that no matter what fennel dishes you choose, recipes call for the use of carefully prepared bulbs.
How to prepare fennel:
- Wash the plant under running water and blot with a paper towel.
- Cut the onion into several slices and remove the inner core.
- Remove any tough outer leaves.
Fennel recipes
There are a large number of fennel dishes in cooking - recipes with photos are full of a variety of ingredients. Fennel is added to desserts, appetizers, soups, broths, stews, sauces, meat dishes, poultry and sea fish dishes. The plant goes well with fruits, zucchini, soft salty cheese, baked potatoes and tomatoes, pine and walnuts. When raw, fennel has a bright dill-mint flavor, and when cooked it has a more delicate aftertaste.
Fennel and orange salad
If you are looking for a delicious dish that will not only please your family, but will also help during the cold season, try orange salad with fennel - the recipe will delight you with its simplicity and health benefits.
You will need:
- fennel bulb - 1 pc.;
- orange - 1 pc.;
- olive oil - 2 tbsp;
- balsamic vinegar - 2 tbsp.
- parsley - 1 bunch;
- salt, pepper - to taste.
How to cook:
- Cut the fennel in half and thinly slice into half rings or strips.
- Peel the orange, cut out the pulp, avoiding the membranes, and cut the segments into small slices. Collect the juice that escaped when peeling the fruit into a glass.
- Add balsamic vinegar and oil to orange juice and stir.
- Place the orange and fennel on a plate, season with salt and pepper, season with oil-vinegar sauce and garnish with parsley.
Calorie content:
Calorie content per 100 g. product 121.5 kcal.
Vegetable stew with fennel
A tasty and healthy dish - vegetable stew with fennel
Vegetable stew has a spicy, pungent taste and quickly drives away the blues and energizes you. If you don't love spicy dishes, change the dosage of red pepper before cooking fennel - recipes advise reducing it by 2 or 3 times. Prepare the dish immediately before serving, as the zucchini may release juice.
You will need:
- fennel bulb - 2 pcs.;
- zucchini - 1 pc.;
- sweet pepper - 3 pcs.;
- carrots - 1 pc.;
- potatoes - 2 pcs.;
- tomato - 3 pcs.;
- garlic (clove) - 1 pc.;
- olive oil - 1 tbsp;
- parsley - 1-2 sprigs;
- salt - to taste.
How to cook:
- Rinse the zucchini and pat dry with a paper towel to remove any moisture.
- Dice the zucchini, peppers, carrots, potatoes and fennel bulbs.
- Chop the tomato into slices.
- Fry the fennel pieces, pepper and a clove of garlic in oil.
- Add the remaining vegetables to the mixture, add salt and simmer until they become soft. Stir in the tomato, bring the stew to a boil and remove from heat.
- Place the stew on plates and garnish with parsley.
Calorie content:
Calorie content per 100 g. product 28.8 kcal.
Pickled fennel
An interesting recipe that can be prepared from fennel for a meat dish is pickled tubers. This snack can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
You will need:
- fennel bulb - 3 pcs.;
- yellow mustard in seeds - 0.5 tsp;
- black peppercorns - 0.5 tsp;
- olive oil - 3 tbsp;
- white wine vinegar - 1 glass;
- granulated sugar - 0.5 cups;
- salt - to taste.
How to cook:
- Roughly chop the fennel.
- Prepare a jar for seaming - sterilize it in the oven or over steam.
- Heat a small skillet over medium heat, add black pepper and mustard and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring until fragrant. Grind the spices into powder in a mortar or grinder.
- Pour water into a saucepan, add olive oil, add sugar, salt and spices. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add vinegar to the liquid and remove the pan from the heat.
- Place the fennel in a jar, fill it with marinade and place the container in a water bath. Boil for 15 minutes, then close the jar with a screw-on lid.
Calorie content:
Calorie content per 100 g. product 127.3 kcal.
Fennel with chicken
Fennel goes great with chicken
Chicken goes well with fennel and is suitable for cooks looking for recipes on how to prepare fennel at home for a hearty family dinner. The dish can be either independent or complementary with rice, pasta and potatoes.
You will need:
- fennel bulb - 1 pc.;
- chicken thighs - 6 pcs.;
- cream 30% fat - 300 g;
- mustard beans - ⅔ tbsp;
- garlic (clove) - 3 pcs.;
- pepper, salt - to taste;
- seasoning for chicken - to taste.
How to cook:
- Wash the chicken thighs, remove the skin, pat dry with paper towels and season with salt and black pepper.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the chicken until golden brown.
- Reduce heat, cover the pan and simmer the thighs for 10 minutes.
- Cut the fennel bulb into strips or half rings, add to the chicken and continue to simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Grind the garlic and mustard in a mortar and pour into a small frying pan. Pour in the cream, add chicken seasonings and heat through.
- Pour the sauce over the fennel chicken thighs and bring to a boil.
Calorie content:
Calorie content per 100 g. product 164.5 kcal.
Beef with fennel
Fragrant beef with fennel is so tasty that it can even be used for a romantic dinner. Before you cook fennel, buy good meat - young, up to 2 years old, 1 cm thick and the size of your palm. Serve while hot, along with roasted potatoes or grilled vegetables.
You will need:
- fennel bulb - 1-2 pcs.;
- beef meat - 1 kg;
- carrots - 1 pc.;
- potatoes - 4-6 pcs.;
- onion - 1 pc.;
- garlic (head) - 1 pc.;
- vegetable oil - 1 tbsp.
How to cook:
- Cut the meat into strips or small pieces. Fry in a frying pan with pepper and salt until golden brown.
- Cut the garlic and onion into rings, the carrots into slices, and the potatoes into cubes. Cut the fennel along the grain into several pieces.
- Add vegetables to the fried meat, pepper and salt.
- Pour some water into the pan so that the dish simmers but does not cook.
- When the meat and vegetables are ready, turn off the heat and transfer to plates.
Calorie content:
Calorie content per 100 g. product 129.3 kcal.
How to prepare a salad with fennel, watch the video:
What to remember
- Fennel is added to salads, used for fish and meat dishes, and used to make sauces, broths, snacks and baked goods.
- If you are looking for something to cook with fennel for... festive table, choose recipes with beef and chicken.
- Pickled fennel is a delicious preparation for the winter.
- A salad with fennel and vegetable stew will help strengthen your immune system during the cold season and give you energy.
For many summer residents, summer is a time not only for relaxation, but also for worrying about the future harvest and winter supplies. Especially popular are various herbs, seasonings and spices that can be grown on your own plot. Today we will discuss growing fennel from seeds. This plant has recently become popular in our latitudes, and therefore few people know its features and characteristics.
Fennel on your site
Fennel belongs to the perennial plants of the umbrella family, but our gardeners prefer to grow this herb as an annual.
- The fennel stem is erect, highly branched, and can grow up to 2 meters in height. Sometimes a bluish coating is observed on it. The plant has a powerful root system with one or more main taproots up to 1.5 cm thick.
- Fennel leaves resemble dill in appearance. It is even called pharmaceutical dill. The plant blooms in small yellow flowers. The flowering time begins in July and continues until the end of August.
- After flowering, fennel produces seeds that fully ripen by the end of September. They are very small, about 10 mm long and 3 mm wide, oblong in shape. the weight of 1000 seeds is 5-7 grams.
Externally, fennel resembles dill
There are three ways to harvest fennel for future use:
- harvesting leaves;
- seed procurement;
- harvesting roots.
Collecting leaves can be done all summer. They are washed, dried and ventilated. After this, the leaves can be consumed fresh, for example, in salads, or they can be chopped, dried, put in a glass container, tightly closed and used in winter.
The seeds are collected when they are fully ripe and brown. After collecting, they need to be dried in a dark, ventilated place for 2-3 days, and then kneaded and threshed. The seeds should be stored in a tightly closed pan.
The roots for harvesting are dug up in the fall, thoroughly washed, chopped and dried or frozen in this form. There is an easier way: shake the soil from the dug out root and store it in the basement like all other root vegetables.
Please note: fennel is very widely used as a medicinal product that has bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, anthelmintic, antioxidant and analgesic effects. This plant will come in handy not only in the kitchen, but also in your home medicine cabinet.
Preliminary data on crop cultivation
Fennel loves heat very much, so it prefers regions with long warm summer And mild winter. Very demanding of moisture, loves fertile soil, rich in lime and deeply cultivated. Waterlogged soil is unsuitable for fennel. It is desirable that the soil is slightly alkaline, close to neutral.
Fennel seeds germinate at a temperature of 6-10 degrees, but the best temperature is from 20 to 30 degrees. Shoots appear in 14-15 days, and unfriendlyly. Fennel sprouts may be prone to bolting due to:
- sowing too early;
- dry soil;
- thickening of seedlings.
Fennel tolerates autumn cold relatively well, but middle lane It's better to cover it for the winter. In the second year, the fennel growing season will begin at the end of April.
Experts divide fennel varieties into 2 groups: ordinary and vegetable. The common variety has several subgroups according to yield, early maturity and foliage. Some varieties are rich in essential oils, which gives them a bright aroma. Vegetable varieties of fennel, on the contrary, have a more delicate smell.
There are many vegetable varieties with heads of cabbage. Their differences among themselves are in the shape and color of the leaves, as well as in the shape and size of the heads. They can be round or flat.
Among the most common fennel varieties in the middle zone are the following:
- Lighthouse;
- Chernivtsi local;
- Martisor;
- Crimean;
- Luzhnikovsky;
- Aroma;
- Semko;
- Leader;
- Soprano;
- Autumn beauty;
- Daredevil.
Each variety has its own characteristics and requirements for cultivation.
Sowing seeds and care
Choosing the right seeds for sowing - here main secret growing and receiving good harvest. When selecting material for planting, be guided by the conditions required for a particular variety: climate, soil composition, illumination of the area.
Vegetable fennel seeds should be sown in spring or before winter at a depth of 2 centimeters. Prepare the bed for sowing in advance. If necessary, lim the soil and fertilize it in one of the following ways:
- adding humus in the ratio of 1 bucket per 1 sq.m.;
- adding old sawdust (two-liter jar per 1 sq.m.);
- adding superphosphates (2 tablespoons per 1 sq.m.).
When developing a bed for growing fennel, dig it thoroughly and loosen the soil with a rake. Seed grooves should be made at a distance of 60-70 cm from each other.
Spring sowing is carried out in the first ten days of April. After this, the fennel bed should be kept under film until May to retain moisture and protect the seedlings from frost.
On days 5-10, the seedlings must be thinned out so that there is a distance of about 20 cm between the plants. A high-quality head of cabbage can develop up to 10 cm in diameter, so it needs space. After you finish thinning, feed the seedlings with mullein infusion and lightly hill up the seedlings.
Hilling will also be required at the end of May - beginning of June. Some experts recommend hilling fennel several times to bleach the developing heads. But in practice, the fleshy bases of the cuttings get dirty when hilling. To avoid this, in June, protect the lower part of the plant with a special “clothing”. Cut from plastic bottle volume 2 liters, two rings 20 cm wide. Place the ring on the plant and dig it slightly into the soil. You can also run a plastic strip around the plant and secure it. Hill up to the height of the ring.
While the fennel is growing, it needs to be fed 2 more times with mullein or an infusion of fermented grass and watered regularly, especially if the summer is hot and dry.
Video about growing fennel from seeds in a summer cottage
Now you know a little more about growing fennel from seeds. You can always use this wonderful culture in the preparation of your favorite dishes to give them a wonderful, unique aroma and taste. If you have any questions about this topic, please ask them in the comments. We will also be glad if you share with us your experience of growing fennel. Good luck to you and have a good harvest!
Greetings to the readers of my site! Surely many of you have heard about this amazing plant like fennel. You have heard, but how much do you know about him? Something tells me that many of the answers will be “no.” That is why today I decided to talk about the fennel plant and its beneficial properties. I’ll also tell you about growing fennel from seeds and caring for it.
To begin with, about what does fennel look like and where does it grow?
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Fennel grass is an amazing perennial plant that belongs to the Umbelliferae family. But often gardeners grow this plant as an annual.
- The stem of the plant is quite tall, can reach a height of up to two meters. The stem is erect with strong branching. A bluish coating may be observed on it.
- The root system of the plant is very powerful. The main root of fennel is a taproot. The plant has several such main roots. They can reach 1-1.5 centimeters in thickness.
- The leaves are green, reminiscent of ordinary dill leaves.
- The flowers are very small. Fennel blossoms yellow from the beginning of July to the end of August. After sowing, the plant blooms within a year - in the second year.
- The fruits are small (up to 10 millimeters long and up to 3 millimeters wide) and have an oblong shape. The weight of 1000 seeds is about 5-7 grams. Fennel fruits taste sweetish. The seeds fully ripen in mid-late September.
The plant reproduces mainly by ripened seeds. They can remain viable for 2-3 years. You can also propagate vegetatively, that is, by dividing the bush, but this method is not so often used.
How to procure raw materials
Harvesting fennel carried out in several ways. Leaves can be collected all summer. After collection, they are washed, dried and ventilated, and then sent for drying. This preparation is stored in glassware, tightly closed.
The seeds (fruits) are collected when they are ripe (turn brown), then they are sent to dry for 2-3 days in dark place which is well ventilated. Then they are kneaded or threshed. You can store the seeds in any container, as long as it closes well and tightly.
Roots are prepared as follows. First, they are dug up (in the fall), then washed well from the ground, dried and cut. After this, they can be dried or frozen. But there is another way to store fennel roots. After digging, shake the ground thoroughly and store it as you store all root vegetables.
Interesting Facts
The plant resembles dill in appearance. Because of its medicinal qualities and similarity to dill, people called it medicinal dill (pharmacy dill).
Italy is considered the birthplace of common fennel, although today it can be found everywhere, growing wild.
The plant juice contains a number of vitamins and acids, such as B vitamins and ascorbic acid, as well as many others.
There are several types of fennel, about ten, but two of them are very famous in the world: ordinary and cabbage. It is the common fennel that is described above. But head fennel, in principle, is no different from ordinary fennel, except that a head of cabbage is formed at the base of the aerial part. In this way it resembles kohlrabi cabbage. This species is also called Italian because of its homeland of origin, or vegetable, since it is used to a greater extent in cooking.
What you need to know about growing fennel?
As mentioned above, fennel is grown mainly from seeds and sometimes by dividing the bush. Seeds can be sown twice a year. The first time sowing is done from mid-April to early June, and the second from mid-August to mid-September. This crop grows best on sandy loam or light loamy soils. The planting location should be sunny or slightly shaded.
Before sowing, the soil must be well fertilized organic fertilizers and spill with water. Ash can be used as fertilizer - about 0.5 kg per 1 sq. m., as well as compost and/or manure - about 1 kg per 1 sq. m. It is better to dilute compost and manure in a bucket of water and fertilize the bed with this.
Fennel requires frequent loosening and watering. These techniques can be reduced if applied after the plant has grown well.
You can also grow fennel using seedlings. It should be sown for seedlings in late February - early March. It is not necessary to dive, but it is advisable to do so at least once before landing in the ground in a permanent place.
Vegetable fennel is grown like ordinary fennel, but it is best to plant it through seedlings. If you sow seeds in open ground, the plant may not form a head at the base due to long daylight hours. The distance between plants and rows should be from 40 to 50 centimeters. This planting scheme can be used for all types of plants.
In the garden and vegetable garden, fennel does not harm the “neighbors” if it is planted in a separate bed and is watered and processed in a timely manner. If it does not have enough moisture, it can take root in “foreign territory.”
Another problem is self-seeding, the reasons are described above: “I don’t have water, I’ll take it from someone else.” Accordingly, other cultivated plants will suffer by giving water to this egoist.
Fennel can be a good neighbor for cabbage and cucumbers, as its aroma repels aphids. Just remember about its “hydration” and that cucumbers also love water very much (without it they become bitter). You can read about growing cucumbers.
But, despite its incompatibility with other plants, fennel also brings enormous benefits to the garden. With its flowering it attracts many beneficial insects to the site. This property should be taken into account by every gardener, especially those who decide on eco-farming.
Since fennel is very useful plant for human health and for the garden, then it needs to be planted in the garden. Just give him a separate “room”, that is, a garden bed. In this case, everyone will benefit.
What are the benefits of fennel?
Fennel has so many uses that one could be forgiven for being a little selfish towards others. cultivated plants. It is used in cooking, baking, winemaking, medicine and even in perfumery. The sweetish aroma and taste of the plant attracts more and more attention every time. Well, now let’s learn more about the use of fennel and its beneficial properties.
Why do chefs love him?
In cooking, this plant is used mainly as a spice. It is added to soups, salads, meat, in the production of preserves, in confectionery, and also in the production of wine.
Fennel gives dishes a pleasant sweetish aroma that gives off a little dill and a little anise.
In many countries, this plant is a national seasoning or an independent dish - dessert. And a wide variety of dishes are prepared from vegetable fennel.
How is it used in medicine?
Fennel also has its uses in medicine. It is used to prepare decoctions and infusions. They treat skin and nervous diseases. Fennel decoctions are an excellent preventative against colds.
Brooms are even made from fennel, which are used in hospitals and medicinal baths. Essential oils plants, together with water vapor, relax the human body and at the same time heal it.
This herb is used to make the well-known dill water for children under one year of age, which is recommended for normal digestion in babies (to prevent colic and bloating).
Various preparations against lice and fleas are produced with fennel extract. But even without the extract, you can use fresh fennel if harmful insects harass your beloved animals. To do this, chop the fresh leaves of the plant and rub them into the fur of your pets. Also place fresh leaves around the area where your pets sleep. of this plant. This will also help get rid of fleas.
Does fennel have any contraindications?
Perhaps they exist, but when studying the medical literature to write this article, no contraindications were found. If you suddenly know about any contraindications to the use of this plant, I will be glad to read about them in the comments
I wish you success!
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