Why Grow Fennel Herb At Home

Fennel, a plant with yellow flowers and fluffy leaves, is indigenous to the Mediterranean shores but has become widely known worldwide because of its usage in the culinary field. The bulb, foliage, and seeds of the Fennel Herb are used in cooking recipes in many parts of the world. For instance, in Mediterranean cuisine, bulbs and fronds, whether raw or cooked, are found in salads, pastas, vegetable dishes, and side dishes. Meanwhile, the seeds form part of ingredient in Italian sausages and meatballs and northern European rye breads. It is a spice ingredient, having a strong sweet anise-like flavor, in India and the Middle East while in Pakistan and India, fennel seeds when roasted are consumed as after-meal digestive and used as breath freshener.

Fennel Herb also have medicinal purposes, among which include relief of digestive problems, increase in lactation, and reduction of inflammation. In aromatherapy, its essential oil is oftentimes used. For internal use, fennel is used to increase milk flow in breastfeeding mothers. Women who are suffering from menstrual cramps also find relief in fennel herb. Those with chronic coughs and build up of mucus on their upper respiratory tract, whether adults or children, use the juice extracted from the fresh herb or fruit of the plant to improve their condition. Fennel can also be used for treatment of skin disorders, conjunctivitis, and inflammation of the eyelid. Fennel essential oil helps detoxify the body and helps reduce cellulite by easing constipation and flatulence. Furthermore, wrinkles can be prevented and skin is rejuvenated by using fennel to wash one’s face. In fact, you may find fennel as an ingredient to the natural products of many holistic facial establishments.

Growing fennel herb is not complicated. In fact, you can just purchase a pot of pre-planted fennel in your local garden store. The plant is very hardy and can survive well even after the first frost. The plant prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is best to grow this herb in rich soils and then you can just add fertilizer once or twice a season. It does not require much water so during dry periods you can water the plant once or twice per week only. Fennel herbs are grown from seeds directly sown into your garden early in the season. Expect to have your first harvest in the fall if you started panting in mid-summer. You can harvest the Fennel Leaf anytime while the bulbs should be gathered when they reach the size of a tennis ball or larger.