Fennel: Uses and plants to avoid planting near

Hey, everyone, I'm looking for ways to cook Fennel and which types of Fennel are used in cooking. Also, I saw that you shouldn't plant near certain vegetables-is that all whoeey?! Thanks!! :-)

fennel is not a good companion to any crop.

Fennel is a pretty plant when placed in a bed with flowers though. It also raises a good crop of butterflies. Here it is a perennial and even when eaten to a nubbin by caterpillers, it comes back bigger and better. I like the fennel taste although I've not harvested mine to use in cooking.

Don't take me wrong, I do like fennel . I cultivated in a container away from my veggie garden but I use it some and it is beautiful with all its bright yellow flowers.

I was only answering the question about companion plant.

It is used in sauces, soups, stews, and salads and as garnish for fish. The stems can be eaten like celery, and the roots can be boiled as a vegetable. The seeds can be used whole or ground in desserts, breads, cakes, cookies, teas, and beverages. The plant is used to make bright yellow or gold dye

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/fruits-and-vegetables/vegetables-a-m/fennel/top.aspx

http://www.cooksunited.co.uk/rs/s0/fennel/recipes.html

Cristina ~ I didn't mean to criticize. I've always felt there is a place for every plant in nature. I love the ferny foliage and beautiful color of fennel.

Thanks for the links... I will have to start using it but was wanting it to become established.

podster we're fine, as it is a perennial and reseeds easily you will be able to start using it pretty soon.

Fennel is an excellent source of vitamin C. It is also a very good of dietary fiber, potassium, manganese, folate, and molybdenum. In addition, fennel is a good source of niacin as well as the minerals phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, and copper.

Also, research demostrated that Fennel contains a very unique combination of phytonutrients-including the flavonoids rutin, quercitin, and various kaempferol glycosides-that give it strong antioxidant activity. The most interesting may be anethole-the primary component of its volatile oil. In animal studies, the anethole in fennel has repeatedly been shown to reduce inflammation and to help prevent the occurrence of cancer and liver protection. At present there are few studies on human subjects and they are pointing to positive tendencies.

Wow ~ now that was over my head! Other than I understood it was good for me...

My fennel has not managed to reseed as the caterpillars strip it before it gets to bloom.

yes, is super good for us all!, That's why I use it!

Podster, you just need to plant MORE of it then, lol!

I'm particularly interested in the seeds, there's a quick down 'n dirty bouillabaisse recipe that it lends a lovely flavor to.

Is all the good benefits of fennel just pertain to green/white fennel or does this included the beautiful bronze fennel as well?

All Fennel have the same nutrients and phytonutrients.

christmascactus, all varieties are eatable, thus you can use the broze fennel

The one used in the clinical estudies is the common fennel.

Great info! I was wondering about the Bronze fennel as well. I'll have to find a place for some next spring. Will they be fine in the herb garden?

Well in mi opinion fennel, any, is not good companion plant to anything.

Plant it with ornamentals and you'll be fine. Keep it away from from the veggie garden - especially cilantro/coriander, dill, tomatoes, kohlrabi, and beans.

Because it reseeds easily, after flowering and it goes to seeds, as soon as the seeds turn brown, cut it and leave them to dry in paper bags. Then you can use the seeds for cooking or to make new plants.

I think the reason that they're not good companions is that they can actually change the flavor of their neighbor - is that correct, Cristina?

You give it in the head. They cross polinate. Avoid putting it anywhere near beans or tomatoes though. Beans just do not flower near fennel.

It has so many uses its worth giving it some space, There's an old saying 'plant fennel near your kennel.' It is good for keeping fleas away and the dried leaves can be put in the kennel itself. Also in the kitchen generally deororise cooking smells in general. Aphids also do not care for fennel and are strongly repelled by it. I've actually grown it near my roses with no ill effects. And not many aphids in my roses.

Lots of really good information here! Think I'll try bronze fennel with my roses.

Donna

saanansandy, I'm putting a recipe for Fennel out in the mail to you. It is really good. Let me know how you like it. Mary

Thanks everyone!!
Do you all start yours from seed? If you do, what method works well for you?

Thanks Mary!! I'm looking forward to receiving it. :-)
Has anyone bought any in the grocery store?

Donna, oh I bet that would be pretty. Would love to see pictures when you do.
marti, do you mind sharing your recipe with us?

No problem. Here goes!
Fennel and Leeks au Gratin by Suzanne Summers
You will need:
1 tbsp olive oil salt and pepper
4 medium fennel bulbs 2 lg eggs
4 medium leeks 8 oz Parmesan cheese, grated
6 tbsp unsalted butter nutmeg (fresh grated if you have it)

Preheat over to 350 F. Prepare a 9X9 casserole dish by rubbing it with the olive oil.
Cut the green stems off the fennel, leaving just the bulb to work with. Trim off the bottom of the bulb, Peel off and discard any damaged outer leaves. Slice the fennel bulbs lengthwise into quarters: rinse.
Cut the green tops off the leeks. Trim off the bottom. Slice the leeks in falf lengthwise, than cut into pieces about 4 inches long. Rinse well, separating the layers to remove any sand or dirt.
Bring a lg pot of salted water to a boil. Add the leeks and fennel and coil for 15 minutes. Drain. Add butter then veggies back in pot, stirring til fennel and leeks become slightly brown. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to casserole dish.
In a bowl, beat the eggs until fluffy Add 6 oz of grated Parmesan cheese to eggs and mix Pour over veggies. Top with remaining 2 oz of cheese and a little nutmeg.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Try it you'll like it. Mary

I always buy fennel at the store. Esp if on sale. Now that I have a LARGE area to garden in I'll start growing my own fennel and leeks. I love cream of leek soup.
saanansandy, I've posted the recipe, but can still mail you a copy if you need me to.
Mary

Mary, I'll try your recipe , sound lovely!

I do not want to show off but I do wish we all know how our lowly garden can prevent terribles diseases and if we couldn't prevented our children will learn from us. I am a dietitian off the work force, but still I get the journals and keep uo to date with what is going on, all these because I do want to explaine the mechanism how the anethole-the primary component of its volatile oil works in our system.

It involves the shutting down of a intercellular signaling system called tumor necrosis factor (or TNF)-mediated signaling. By shutting down this signaling process, the anethole in fennel prevents activation of a potentially strong gene-altering and inflammation-triggering molecule called NF-kappaB ( we all have this gene).

The hypothesis is that although all the time abnormal cells appears in the system, then fennel and other phytochemicals in other vegetables would react and act as scavenger or deactiventing the NF-kappaB gene.

The fresher the herb, vegetable, fruit / food is, the stronger the beneficial action will be, That's why we should continue producing our own organic garden product.

The volatile oil has also been shown to be able to protect the liver of experimental animals from toxic chemical injury.

cristina, I do hope you like the recipe. I fix it on a regular bases. Let me know how you like it. Mary

Thanks Mary, I'll just print it out so you can save the postage! I can't wait to try it. :-)

Your welcome. I hope you like it as much as I do.
Maybe I should think about sharing my Cream Cheese Pie recipe. My friend gave me the recipe in 1973 and she got it from her husbands grandmother. I never like cheesecake until I tried this recipe. Now it's the only one I'll eat.
Mary

love new recipes!

Marti, thank you for sharing your recipe.
Will try it but have to wait & grow my own fennel & leeks because they are never in our markets here.

Although I'd rather just get the food.... heh....

ChristmasC,

Happy to oblige.

D

Would it be ok to grow fennel in a pot near other garden plants or is just best not to do that either? Is it it's roots or the whole plant that makes it bad to plant near veggies & other herbs?

-dill is the only herb that will grow near fennel and even dill is a poor choice because the two herbs tend to cross-polinate, rendering the seeds.
- the possibility of cross pollination between the fennel and other vegetables
- Most plants dislike the essential oil (smell perfume) and stant some plants
-Its foliage and flowers may attract beneficials, so place in the flower garden. It is great with Roses.

http://www.gardeningcd.com/HerbFrms/fennel.htm :
"Fennel is in general a poor companion plant in the garden. It inhibits the growth of nearby plants, especially beans, tomatoes and kohl rabi. It is itself inhibited in growth by wormwood and coriander. "

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Foeniculum+vulgare:
Fennel is in general a poor companion plant in the garden. It inhibits the growth of nearby plants, especially beans, tomatoes and kohl rabi[14, 18]. It is itself inhibited by wormwood and coriander[14, 18]. However, the flowering plant attracts beneficial insects such as bees, parasitic wasps, tachinid flies and hoverflies to the garden. The presence of these creatures will help to maintain a natural balance of insects in the garden and help prevent infestations by aphis etc[238]. It is best not to grow fennel and dill (Anethum graveolens) close to each other since hybridisation can occur and the resulting seedlings will be of indeterminate flavour[238].

Thanks for the great info.

You are very well welcome!

I feel that the root send something like the juglone in blak walnuts into the soil.