How Do You Grow Fennel

How Do You Grow Fennel

Fennel       

Botanical Name : Foeniculum vulgare Mill 

Family : Apiaceae)/ Umbelliferae 

                                                                                   

Fennel is an aromatic plant of the umbrella family (Umbelliferae). It is a cash crop. Fennel is mainly grown for spices. The dried seeds are used for pickles, vegetables, chutney etc. Apart from these, it is used for making soups, flavouring meat, fish etc. with spices, making double roti, pastry and various types of sweets. Oil is also extracted from fennel seeds. Fennel contains 14-22 percent protein and 12.0-18.5 percent fat. In India, fennel is consumed mainly for eating purposes, and it is also exported to foreign countries, earning foreign currency.

India is the largest producer of fennel in the world, and its major production also takes place in China, Egypt and other Mediterranean and temperate regions. Fennel is cultivated for its aromatic seeds, edible tubers and leaves.

Major Fennel Producing Countries

India – India is the world’s largest producer and exporter of fennel, contributing more than 60% of the global supply. The Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan are the top fennel producing regions, offering an ideal semi-arid climate.

China – A significant producer and exporter of fennel, whose products are used in both traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine.

Egypt – A major hub for the production of herbs and spices, Egypt’s warm, dry climate is suitable for fennel cultivation. The country is also a major exporter to European and neighboring markets.

Iran – Known for its diverse spice production, Iran has a climate suitable for fennel cultivation and export to surrounding countries.

Afghanistan – This country produces a small but notable amount of naturally grown fennel seeds, which are prized for their pungent flavor.

Turkey -  Fennel cultivation area in this country is growing rapidly and it exports to major markets such as Germany and France.

Syria - Historically a major fennel producer, although production has fluctuated due to regional instability.

Italy and France - These southern European and Mediterranean countries are known for cultivating Florence fennel, which is harvested for its tubers to be used as a vegetable.

According to Ayurveda, fennel is thirst quenching, Madhu, expectorant, digestive, tasty and cooling, lactation enhancer, semen producing and bile destroying.

      How To Grow Fennel

Origin and Distribution - Its origin is considered to be "Southern Europe". At present it is grown on commercial scale in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Apart from these, it is produced on small scale in other states. Fennel is cultivated in Belgaum and Dharwad districts of Karnataka in Southern India.

Nutritive value - The elements obtained from fennel are shown in the table-                                                                

                                       (Nutrition Value of Fennel per 100 gm)

Moisture             : 6.30 Protein                :  9.50 Fat                       : 10.00 Fiber                   : 18.50 Carbohydrates   : 42.30 mineral salts       : 13.40 Vitamin 'A'         : 1040 IU/100 grams Calories               : 370 Calcium               : 1.30 Phosphorus         : 0.48  Iron                      : 0.01 Sodium                 : 0.09 Potassium            : 1.70 Vitamin B1          : 9.41 grams/100 grams Vitamin B2          : 0.36 forever Noacin                  : 6.00 forever  vitamin C'           : 12.00 forever

 

Varieties

Varieties developed by Gujarat Agricultural University -

Gujarat Fennel-1

Gujarat Fennel-2

         How To Plant Fennel

Varieties developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi -

NP (D)-32 and 186

NP (J) - 131 and 269

NP (P)-163

NPK) - 1

Improved Varieties

PSS - 1 - It has been developed by Gowda Pant Agricultural and Technological University, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand).

RF 101 - Plants of this variety have straight, tall and strong stems on which long umbels appear. The grain is thick. This variety is ready in 150-160 days. It gives 15.5 quintals of yield per hectare.

RF 125 - Plants of this variety are small with long and dense canopy. The grain is thick. This variety is ready in 110-130 days and has the capacity to give 17.3 quintals of yield per hectare.

RF 35 - Plants are tall and spread out. Seeds are medium sized, without hair and green. This variety is resistant to diseases like leaf spot and leaf blight. This variety is ready in 125 days. It gives 12.8 quintals of yield per hectare. Some other improved varieties-

Selection-7-9

Udaipur F-31 and 32

Lem Selection-2

VC-14-3-3

Azad Fennel-1

PF-35

MS-1

Lem Selection-1

Co-1

Dry and slightly cold weather is best at the time of seed formation. In such a situation, the quality of the seed also increases.

Climate - Fennel requires a cool and dry climate. Therefore, fennel is grown in autumn-spring, while in South India it is grown only in hilly areas. Plants grow successfully up to a height of 2000 meters above sea level. It grows well in cold weather. It is grown especially in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. 1

Soil and Its Preparation - Fennel can be grown in different types of soils, but for its successful cultivation, sandy loam soil with proper drainage is considered the best. Highly alkaline, highly acidic soils are obstacles in its successful cultivation.

Black soil and loam soil with proper drainage and lime are considered the best for fennel cultivation.

Before preparing the field, plough it by adding 20 tonnes of cow dung manure or compost evenly. After this, use harrow or cultivator 2-3 times and then use plough so that the soil becomes soft and flat.

Seed Rate - 12 kg of seeds are required per hectare, whereas 4-5 kg of seeds are sufficient for preparing seedlings. The seedlings are ready in 7-8 weeks.

Seed Treatment - Seed treatment is essential to protect the fennel crop from diseases. Therefore, before sowing, treat the seeds with Ceresan, Captan or Agrosan GN and then sow. Treat at the rate of two grams of medicine per kilogram of seed.

Sowing Method - Usually, farmers sow fennel by sprinkling method. In this method, sometimes the seeds are sown in large quantity and sometimes in small quantity. Secondly, there is difficulty in performing agricultural activities. Thirdly, there is a huge reduction in the yield. Hence, it should always be sown in rows. Seeds are sown in shallow furrows. When the plants become 7-10 cm tall, then the distance between them is made 30 cm.

      How Do I Grow Fennel

Time of Sowing - This is a Rabi season crop. In Jobner area of Rajasthan, it has been found best to sow fennel in the first week of October. For example, mid-September to mid-October is the suitable time to grow it. If it is sown till 15th November, then there is a huge reduction in the yield.

In some areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan, fennel is also transplanted. 4-5 kg of seeds are sown in 100 square meter area in May-June. In August-September, the plant is ready, then it is transplanted in the field. Fennel is transplanted at a distance of 60x45 cm.

Manure and Fertilizer - Manure and fertilizer should be applied in the following quantity per hectare-

Farm Yard Manure - 10-15 tons

Nitrogen - 90 kg

Phosphorus - 40 kg

Potash - 40 kg

Half quantity of nitrogen, full quantity of phosphorus and potash should be applied at the time of sowing and the remaining quantity of nitrogen should be applied as top dressing 45 days after sowing.

Tests conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana have shown that higher yield of fennel is obtained by applying the following quantity of fertilizers per hectare-

Nitrogen - 100 kg

Phosphorus - 40 kg

Tests conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi have shown that higher yield is obtained by using the following quantity of fertilizers per hectare-

Nitrogen - 80 kg (178 kg urea)

Phosphorus - 60 kg (378 kg super phosphate)

Potash --- 20 kg (33 kg muriate of potash)

Add the entire quantity of potash and phosphorus fertilizers and 1/3 nitrogen to the soil at the time of final ploughing and apply the remaining nitrogen twice in the form of top dressing to the standing crop after 60 and 90 days of sowing and mix it well with the soil.

How Do You Grow Fennel

Irrigation -  Irrigation of fennel crop depends on the type of soil and environment. Irrigation as per need is sufficient for proper development and growth of plants. By giving more water during flowering, vegetative growth of plants increases. There is no special effect on the seed yield. Irrigation should be done at an interval of 15-20 days.

Flowering - Fennel plants start flowering in bunches in the month of December.

Hoeing and Weeding - It is very important to do weeding as per need to destroy the weeds grown with fennel. Usually, weeding three times is enough.

Earthing - After the branches, flowers and bunches of grains emerge around the fennel plants, the plant becomes very heavy, due to this the plants start falling, therefore, to keep them straight, earth should be piled around the stems. Earthing should be done at the end of November, immediately after the second sprinkling of nitrogen.

Harvesting - The crop is ready in 170-180 days. For spices, fennel is harvested in the last week of March. In January, fennel is cut into bunches of green grains and dried by spreading them in the shade for 4-5 days. These fennel grains remain green, thin, soft and flat even after drying, which are tasty to eat. They are dried as per requirement and threshed. The seeds are separated by sprinkling.

Yield - 10-15 quintals of yield is obtained per hectare.