A Complete Guide to Fennel Cultivation in India

Table of Contents

• About Fennel Plant
• Popular Fennel Seed Varieties with Yield
• Suitable Conditions Needed for Fennel Cultivation
  • Temperature
  • Rainfall
  • Soil Preparation
  • Sowing
  • Nutrient & Irrigation Management
  • Harvesting & Post-Harvest Handling
  • Pest & Disease Management
• Conclusion

About Fennel Plant

The scientific name of fennel is Foeniculum vulgare Mill., and it is a Rabi crop. It is a hardy and aromatic perennial grown commercially as an annual herb in India. The fennel plant can grow up to 3 to 5 feet tall, and it has feathery, bright green leaves and small yellow flowers. The fennel seeds, which are technically the dried fruits, are what farmers primarily cultivate.

Fennel seeds are rich in dietary fiber, Vitamin C, potassium, manganese, and calcium. It helps in bloating, indigestion, etc., so it is usually consumed after meals. Also, it has antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The top producers of fennel in India are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Karnataka.

Popular Fennel Seed Varieties with Yield

Selecting the right variety of fennel seeds based on your soil, climate, and market is very essential. Below, we have listed the fennel varieties cultivated across India:

Local: This variety grows up to a height of 150 cm and is ready to harvest in 185-190 days after sowing. Its fruits are oblong and greenish gray in color with prominent ridges.

RF 101: It gives an average yield of 6.5 qtl/acre and can be harvested in 155-160 days.

Gujarat Fennel 1: It can survive in drought conditions. Also, it gives an average yield of 6.6 qtl/acre and is ready to harvest in 255 days.

RF 35: This is a tall fennel variety that gets ready to harvest in 225 days. It is resistant to leaf spots and sugary diseases and gives an average yield of 5.2 qtl/acre.

CO 1: This fennel variety can be cultivated in saline and waterlogged areas. It is a medium-sized variety that gets ready to be harvested in 220 days and gives an average yield of 3 qtl/acre.

Suitable Conditions Needed for Fennel Cultivation

The single most crucial factor in fennel cultivation is getting the right climate match as it is a cool season crop that does not grow properly in heat and humidity.

Temperature

The ideal range of temperature for fennel cultivation is 15 to 25°C. Sowing can be done at this temperature, but harvesting should be done at 18–25°C for the best quality of seeds. Temperatures above 25°C for a long period can affect fennel seed development by triggering premature flowering.

Rainfall

Fennel requires modest and well-distributed moisture. The optimal annual rainfall for this crop is between 50 and 75 mm. Too much rain or irrigation can cause fungal diseases especially during flowering and seed formation.

Soil Preparation

Fennel is adaptable, but it grows best in well-drained loamy, black, or sandy loam soils rich in organic matter. The suitable soil pH for fennel cultivation is 6.5 to 8.

In medium soil, two to three ploughings are enough to prepare a fine seed bed. For heavy soil, do ploughing three to four times. Also, carry out planking after each ploughing to get a uniform seed bed.

Sowing

It is suggested to sow the crops in the second fortnight of October to get a good yield as it is a long duration crop. Between two rows, use 45 cm spacing and 10 cm between two crops under rainfed conditions. Fennel can be directly sown at a depth of 3 to 4 cm but in some areas, it is first raised in a nursery and then transplanted to farms.

Nutrient & Irrigation Management

During land preparation, make sure to add well decomposed cow dung @ 4-6 qtl/acre to soil. Also, put Nitrogen @ 20 kg/acre in the form of Urea @ 45 kg/acre in two to three equal splits. First use of nitrogen is as basal dose and then the remaining dose is applied 30 and 60 days after sowing. Once you get your soil tested for phosphorus deficiency, then only use phosphorus fertilizer.

Pre-sowing irrigation is better for seed germination, and first irrigation of the crop should be done in 10 to 15 days after sowing. Depending on the soil type and climate, irrigate the fields in 15-to-25-day intervals. It is important to note that during flowering and seed formation stage, the plant should not experience any kind of water stress.

Harvesting & Post-Harvest Handling

Mostly, fennel seeds are ready to harvest in around 180 days (end of April to May), but it also depends on fennel variety used. Harvesting can be started once the umbels change their color from green to light yellow. Later, the fennel umbels are dried in sun for 1 or 2 days and about 8 to 10 days in shades. After properly drying the seeds out, they are cleaned, graded, and packed depending on their quality.

Pest & Disease Management

Aphid: In case of an Aphid infestation, use Dimethoate 30EC @ 2ml per liter of water or Methyl demeton 25EC @ 2ml per liter of water to control the infestation.

Powdery Mildew: Take wettable Sulphur @ 2gm/ltr of water and spray to restraint the growth of powdery mildew.

Conclusion

Fennel cultivation helps the Indian farmers to get a high-return opportunity in the global spice market with low-investments. Farmers can increase their yield and profits by choosing the right variety, maintaining ideal soil and climate conditions, controlling pests, etc. With India leading global fennel production, now is the right time to be smarter and get into fennel cultivation.