How to grow fennel on a balcony? A step-by-step guide to planting methods and tips

SummaryTo grow fennel on a balcony, choose fennel seeds that are high-yielding, disease-free and plump; sow them in spring or winter, or buy whole fennel from the vegetable market, keep the 1-2 leaves in the center, and plant it in a pot, watering once every 3-4 days; after about half a month, new leaves will grow, and then you can pick the leaves to eat.

I. Sowing

1. Variety selection

Choose fennel seeds with strong branching ability, high yield, resistance to lodging, freedom from disease and plump grains for sowing.

2. Sowing methods

There are two sowing methods: winter sowing and spring sowing. For winter sowing, plant the seeds in soil with salt added before winter begins, and they can be harvested the following year; you can also choose to sow, manage and harvest in the same spring.

II. Root planting

1. Soil selection

Choose sandy soil that is fertile, well-drained and rich in humus for planting.

2. Selecting roots

Buy whole fennel from the farmers' market; it needs to have roots, and the stems and leaves must be intact.

3. Planting method

The leaves can be pinched off to eat, then keep the 1-2 leaves in the center, plant the remaining leaves directly in a pot, and water once every 3-4 days; as long as it is watered, it can grow normally. Plant at a spacing of 3-4 cm, or adjust according to actual conditions.

4. Harvesting

After about 15-20 days, new leaves will grow. Each time, simply pick the leaves to eat; do not pull it out by the roots. Fennel grown on a balcony can be harvested 15-20 times.

III. Symptoms of fennel pests and diseases

1. Powdery mildew: In the early stage of the disease, white spots appear on the fennel leaves, which gradually expand later and can cause the entire leaf to necrose in severe cases.

2. Gray mold: It mainly harms the leaves and petioles of fennel; when it occurs, it causes the leaves and petioles of fennel to necrose and rot.

3. Root rot: It mainly harms the roots of fennel. If it occurs during the seedling stage, it causes the seedlings to die directly; if it occurs at the mature stage, it causes the roots to rot, and the plant can be pulled out of the potting soil with a gentle tug; in severe cases, it also causes the entire plant to die.

4. Sclerotinia disease: It mainly harms the petioles and stems of the plant; after it occurs, they first become soft and then gradually begin to rot.

5. Viral disease: It mainly harms the entire plant. After the leaves are affected, they become curled and wrinkled, and it also hinders the normal growth of the plant, which is unfavorable for flowering and fruiting.

6. Aphids: They mainly begin to cause damage from the fennel leaves, and they reproduce extremely quickly. If they are not stopped in the early stage, they will spread over the entire plant in a short time, and in severe cases they trigger viral disease in fennel, causing the entire plant to die.

IV. Fennel's pest and disease control methods

1. When pests and diseases are found, in the early stage you can spray fungicides and other treatments for control; in the middle stage, use specialized chemicals for spraying and killing; in the late stage, first cut off the parts seriously affected by pests and diseases, then change the pot and soil and replant, and then spray chemicals for control.

2. During the planting process, improve the growing environment, pay attention to cooling in high-temperature seasons, enhance air circulation, and when watering daily, do not let water accumulate in the soil, and do not keep the soil in a moist state for a long time.