Fennel

An easy to establish short term perennial herb, feathery in apperance with a notable 'aniseed' smell and yellow flowers.

Uses

in the agricultural sector it is used in some game cover mixtures especially to attract partridge. It can be planted alongside maize.

Persistence

3 years

Strengths

produces tall gamecover for game and farmland birds, unique aniseed scent attracts birds. Its yellow flowers through summer are attractive to pollinators and other beneficial insects. Reaches up to 2.1m high

Frost Tolerance

Tolerant to frost

Sowing Rate Advice

5kg/acre (12.5kg/ha)

Ideal Sowing Time

April - early June

Management

Can be topped at the end of the first year/early spring for weed management

Distinguishing characteristics

Seed
Oblong shaped, with distinctive ribs running from length to length. Can be straight like rice or curved into a crescent. Green-light brown colour. It is a larger seed, at 4-8mm

Seedling
Two distinct cotyledons, they are longer than the first true leaf. First true leaf is finely dissected, with thread-like (filiform) leaves.

Flowering Plant
Compound umbels form clsuters of 20-50 small mustard yellow flowers on short pedicels. Blooms in July-August. Forms triternate, finely dissected branches, leaves are thread-like, only 0.5mm wide. Stem is hollow, erect and light green in colour, reaching up to 2.5m. As the plant dies off in winter, it remains as a woody skeleton.

Additional Info

Looks similar to sheep's parsley or dill. Average seeds per kg - 135,000.

Buy Fennel Straight

You can find Fennel in the following mixtures

• Autumn Sown Bumblebird (AHW1/AB16)
• Flexi Game Cover 2 Year Mix 50% Organic
• FlexiCover Two Year Game Mix
• Cotswold Partridge Game Mix
• Cotswold Partridge Mix 50% Organic
• Two Year Wild Bird Food - CEREAL SEPARATE (CAHL2/AHL2/AB9)
• Two Year Wild Bird Seed Mix 50% ORGANIC CEREAL SEPARATE

History

Native to Southern Europe and Asia, traditionally grown for flavouring a medicinal properties.