A Detailed Guide to Fennel Planting Time and Methods
When planting a crop, we must first understand its planting time, then understand the environment suitable for its growth, and finally understand its planting methods, so that the crop we plant can be high-yielding. So today Qinnongwang wants to tell everyone how the fennel plant is grown, and when is the best time to plant it. Let's step into the world of fennel planting together with the editor below.
Planting Time
Fennel is a spice, and also a food, and moreover a medicinal herb, so its range of uses is quite wide. Generally, fennel can be planted in two seasons, so the planting times are respectively in March and April of spring, and in September of autumn. Of course, it can also be planted in winter and summer, except that winter requires the use of greenhouse technology, while in summer the yield and quality are not very ideal. Generally speaking, spring sowing is the best sowing time that combines both high yield and high quality.
Planting Methods
1. Variety Selection
There are many varieties of fennel, but the most common are three: large fennel, small fennel, and bulb fennel. Large fennel mainly has relatively tall plants, relatively high yield, and matures relatively early, suitable for planting in China's Inner Mongolia region. Small fennel, compared with large fennel, has relatively shorter plants, and secondly is more fragrant than large fennel, and is mainly sown in places such as Beijing in China. Finally there is bulb fennel; when it grows to a certain extent its stem gathers and wraps into a ball shape, its fragrance is very light, but it grows faster than other fennel varieties and its yield is also much higher. Of course, no matter which variety is chosen, the seeds must be selected to be very plump, so that the germination rate, yield and quality will be at least twice as high.
2. Land Selection and Soil Preparation
Fennel actually has no excessive requirements for soil; generally sandy soil with a relatively complete soil layer structure, relatively moderate soil pH, and strong permeability and aeration with strong drainage and irrigation capacity is sufficient. When preparing the land, deep plow the soil at least 35 cm, then break the soil up a bit finer, try to make the field look relatively level, and fill in places where water collects with soil. Finally, evenly spread about 1,000 jin of organic fertilizer, 50 jin of phosphate fertilizer, and 20 jin of urea per mu, mixed with a small amount of potassium fertilizer as base fertilizer, then stir the fertilizer evenly, turn the soil over once more, and it is ready for sowing.
3. Sowing and Seedling Raising
There are three sowing methods. Before sowing, the seeds need to be soaked for one day, and then subjected to germination treatment. The first sowing method is the simplest, which is broadcast sowing. First, before sowing, water the land once, then evenly scatter the seeds on top, then use a tool to make the seeds sink into the land, and cover with a layer of dried grass or plastic film. The second method is drilling, that is, on the prepared land, open furrows at a spacing of 15 to 20 cm between each row, with a furrow depth of 3 to 4 cm, then evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows and cover the seeds with soil, then water each furrow once, and finally cover each furrow with a layer of dried grass or film. The last method is hole sowing, which is more troublesome: make a hole every 15 to 20 cm, then scatter seeds into the holes, water and cover with soil, and finally promote sprouting.
4. Field Management
When the seedlings grow to 4 to 5 cm, in some places the fennel grows relatively densely while in other places there are only a few sparse plants, so we need to thin and fill in the seedlings. During this period there are also relatively many weeds in the field, so one intertillage and weeding should be carried out, and after weeding the first topdressing and watering are needed. On average, 1,000 jin of farmyard manure, 50 jin of potassium fertilizer, and 30 jin of urea need to be applied per mu, and watering 50 grams per plant is sufficient. The second fertilization is when the plants grow to about 10 cm; on average, 500 jin of farmyard manure, 100 jin of potassium fertilizer, and 50 jin of boron fertilizer are applied per mu, and at this time a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer can be appropriately applied, and the second watering is carried out.
5. Timely Harvesting
When the plants grow to about 30 cm, harvesting can be carried out. Fennel can be harvested multiple times or in one go. If a higher yield is wanted, it can be harvested in multiple portions; each time, cut about 3 to 4 cm above the ground, then apply fertilizer once more to promote growth. If harvesting all at once, simply pull it up by the roots.