Fennel Common.

Common fennel: description, cultivation and use

Common fennel (lat. Foeniculum vulgare) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Umbelliferae family, widely distributed in the Caucasus, Crimea, southern regions of Central Asia and Transcaucasia. The plant, 100-200 cm high, has a tap root, fleshy and yellowish-white, as well as a straight hollow stem with a bluish coating, in the upper part of which it branches. The leaves are petiolate, alternate, and repeatedly dissected into linear segments. In July-August, fennel blooms with small yellow flowers collected in an umbrella, which in turn forms up to 10 complex umbrella inflorescences. The fruits are oblong brownish-gray two-seeds, which split into two semi-fruits. Fennel has an aromatic and strong odor, reminiscent of anise, and a sweetish-spicy taste. The plant ripens in September.

Common fennel grows on dry rocky slopes, in ditches, grassy areas, along roads and houses, as well as in the mountains, where it can reach heights of up to 2000 m above sea level. Fennel is grown as an essential oil crop and medicinal plant in Ukraine, Belarus and Kuban. When grown on a personal plot, the plant is placed in open, sunny places. It develops well on fertile loamy soils and reproduces by seeds, which are sown in early spring in beds to a depth of 2.5-3 cm. The distance between plants should be 10-20 cm, and between rows - 20-25 cm. The first shoots appear at 20 day, and the optimal growth temperature is 10°C.

Fennel blooms in its second year, and soil preparation is recommended for its best growth and development. Before digging the soil, add 30 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of superphosphate and 10 g of potassium salt per 1 m2. On poor soils, plants are fed with manure. The first feeding is carried out when two or three true leaves appear. Fennel is cold-resistant, but without snow it can freeze, so it is better to cover it. Plants that are insulated for the winter grow better in the spring. During dry periods, fennel requires watering.

Fennel has many beneficial properties and is widely used in cooking, medicine and cosmetology. Dishes prepared from it have a pleasant aroma and taste, and also help improve digestion. It is used to flavor meat and fish dishes, soups, salads, pies and confectionery. Fennel is also added to teas and tinctures to improve digestion and relieve cramps.

In cosmetology, fennel is used as a skin care product, in particular to eliminate wrinkles, improve blood circulation and reduce swelling. Fennel is used to prepare oils that are used for massage and aromatherapy.

In medicine, fennel is used as a medicinal plant. It has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, choleretic and diuretic properties. Tinctures, decoctions, essences and oils are prepared from fennel, which are used to treat many diseases, including digestive disorders, coughs, colds, colic, arthritis, hypertension, etc.

In conclusion, fennel is a valuable plant with many beneficial properties. It is widely used in cooking, medicine and cosmetology. If you want to grow it on your site, then remember that it loves sunny places and fertile soils, and also requires care and feeding.