Soil –
Well drained loamy or black or sandy soil rich in organic matter which is rich in plant nutrients and lime. However, heavy soils are more desirable than light soils.
Climate-
Fennel thrives on long sunny days. A temperature of 15-30° C is the optimum and above 25°C for extended period usually retards development of fennel and in early growth may result premature flowering and very low seed yield.
Hills: May – June.
Plains: October – November.
Direct sowing: 9 – 12 kg/ha.
Transplanting: 3 – 4 kg/ha
Nursery area: 100 m2
.
In direct sown crop, thin 4 – 5 weeks old seedlings to 25 – 30 cm spacing
Basal : Apply 25:10 kg N and P/ha.
Top dressing : Apply 25 kg N/ ha at the time of flowering
First irrigation immediately after sowing, second on the third day and subsequent irrigations at 7 – 10 days interval.
Two or three weedings are necessary. The plants are earthed up after 3 months.
Pests
1)Aphids:
Spray dimethoate 30 EC 2 ml/lit or methyl demeton 25 EC 2 ml/lit.
1)Powdery mildew
Dust sulphur @ 25 kg/ha or foliar spray with wettable sulphur @ 2 g/l at the time of appearance of disease
The crop matures in 7 – 8 months. The umbels are harvested 4 – 5 times at 10 – 15 days intervals and dried in sun for 4 – 5 days and seeds are thrashed
500 – 750 kg/ha