The botanical name of Fennel is Foeniculum vulgare Mill.; it belongs to the family Apiaceae
Varieties: CO 1
Soil and climate: Well drained loamy soil or black or sandy soil rich in organic matter is suitable.
It comes up well in fairly mild climate.
Seed rate
For direct sowing : 9 - 12 kg/ha.
For transplanting : 3 - 4 kg/ha – Nursery area 100 sq.m.
Spacing: 5 - 6 weeks old seedlings are transplanted at 60 x 30 cm spacing.
Seasons for sowing
Hills: May - June.
Plains: October - November.
Irrigation: First irrigation immediately after sowing, second on the third day and subsequent irrigations at 7 - 10 days intervals.
Manuring
Basal: FYM 10 t/ha, N at 25 kg and 10 kg P/ha.
Top dressing: 25 kg N at the time of flowering.
Aftercultivation: Two or three weedings are necessary. The plants are earthed up after 3 months.
Pre-emergent application of Pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i./ha and one hand weeding.
Plant protection against Pests
Aphids: Spray dimethoate 30 EC 2 ml/lit or methyl demeton 25 EC 2 ml/lit.
Powdery mildew: Dust Sulphur at 25 kg/ha at the time of appearance of disease.
Harvest: The crop matures in 7 - 8 months. Harvest the umbels 4 - 5 times at 10 - 15 days intervals, dry in sun for 4 - 5 days and seeds are thrashed.
Yield: 500 - 750 kg/ha/year.
