What is the herb fennel used for?

What is the herb fennel used for?

Fennel is used for various digestive problems including heartburn, intestinal gas, bloating, loss of appetite, and colic in infants. It is also used for upper respiratory tract infections, coughs, bronchitis, cholera, backache, bedwetting, and visual problems.

Is fennel herb Hardy?

A short-lived hardy perennial, fennel will survive winter temperatures to -17C (0F).

Is fennel plant poisonous?

Can fennel be toxic? Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), in normal food uses, is not toxic. Nor does it present toxicity in suitable medicinal uses.

Is fennel a herb or spice?

Overview of fennel. Fennel, (Foeniculum vulgare), perennial herb of the carrot family (Apiaceae) grown for its edible shoots, leaves, and seeds.

Does fennel grow back every year?

Fennel is grown as an ornamental or a vegetable. Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare, is a short-lived perennial with some types hardy in zones 4-9 but is often grown as an annual in cooler climates.

Does fennel like sun or shade?

Herb fennel will grow perfectly well in a position in full sun or in partial shade. Florence fennel needs a position in full sun. Both grow best in a fertile, moist but well-drained soil.

When to harvest fennel?

Fennel is ready to harvest just before its flowers bloom—typically three to four months after planting. It can need up to seven months for the base to swell enough to be ready to harvest and eat, though the leaves can be harvested at any time.

When to harvest fennel bulb?

Harvesting. With the proper location in the garden and good care, fennel is generally ready for harvest within three months of planting from seed, or 70 to 80 days from transplants. Harvest bulbs when they reach roughly the size of a tennis ball or before the plant begins to flower. With a sharp knife, harvest the bulb by cutting…

What does fennel look like growing?

Fennel is a stocky plant which can grow to 24 inches tall and looks something like celery with fleshy stalks and feathery leaves. A taller cultivar of fennel known as common or sweet fennel is grown for its leaves and seeds which are used as herbal seasonings. Fennel produces a flat-topped cluster of small,…

Is fennel hard to grow?

Fennel is a hardy plant and will continue to grow, even after several hard frosts, so it is not vital that the plant be harvested precipitately in the face of the weather. It will easily over-winter in tropical climates.