In order to harvest rich tuberous fennel in late summer, the starting signal for cultivation is given in spring. Read here when and how the sowing succeeds. Benefit from our tips for the best care of the aromatic Mediterranean spice plant.
A planting distance of about 30cm makes sense when growing tuber fennel
Sow bulbous fennel at the ideal time - this is how it works
From the middle/end of May, choose a sunny location with nutrient-rich, humus-rich and fresh, moist soil. Prepare a finely crumbly seedbed here, enriched with sifted compost. How to plant the seeds correctly:
- Make small furrows at a distance of 30-40 cm
- Place the seeds at a maximum depth of 2 cm at a distance of 20-25 cm
- Close the furrows, press down and moisten with a fine spray
Then cover the seedbed with fleece or protect it with a foil tunnel (€11.46) to generate a germination temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius. Be sure to keep the soil slightly moist and warm, otherwise the seedlings will sprout. Pull out weeds consistently, as the rake could cause damage to the tender roots.
Care Tips - How to encourage growth
Fennel bulb is one of the heavy feeders. So don't let the extremely healthy spice plant starve. A regular water supply is also one of the main pillars in the care program. We have summarized what is required to harvest blossom-white tubers here:
- Water the bulbous fennel immediately when the soil has dried slightly
- Work in a 2-3 cm thick layer of compost with horn shavings (32.93€) or bark humus every 2 weeks
- Chop and weed the bed soil regularly
When the tubers have reached a diameter of 3-4 cm, pile them up. To do this, pull the soil over the fennel with the rake so far that only the green leaves are still exposed. This effort is rewarded with appetizing white fennel bulbs. When the fruit is the size of a fist, harvesting can begin.
tips
The early bulbous fennel varieties accumulate less nitrate, so they are particularly popular with health-conscious gardeners. Compared to the classics, the new varieties score with a low tendency to bolt. Therefore, when choosing seeds, use names such as Argo, Selma, Atos, Zefa or Cantino.