Anti-viral properties Fennel is a flavorful herb that offers many health benefits. Research confirms this perennial herb has anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties, in addition to anti-inflammatory properties. Since these plant species are associated with the carrot family, the beta-carotene present is used in the coloring of foods. Rich in Vitamin C, which aids in increasing Collagen production and tissue repair.
The botanical name Foeniculum vulgare, commonly known as Fennel, is native to the Mediterranean, where it is wildly grown and can be grown almost anywhere. It has a strong taste and an aromatic flavor. Besides being low in calories, fennels are a rich source of nutrients that aid in weight management.
Potentially, the seeds of the flavoring fennel produce powerful essential oils.
Its dry seeds are well known for adding flavors to cooking foods; also, chewing its seeds entrusts us with a mouth-freshening effect.
They are green and white, containing feathery leaves and yellow flowers. The main plant bulb consists of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which controls blood pressure, sodium, phosphorus, and calcium.
Other vitamin minerals found in fennels maintain bone structure. Phosphate and calcium for developing strong bones. Increase Collagen-boosting with iron and phosphate, Manganese acts for casting formation, whereas Vitamin K formulates the bone structure. Additionally, it also carries essentially high levels of fatty acids and magnesium.
Fennel seeds, leaves, and flowers increase the flavoring essence for tea lovers. Further, this tea helps improve digestion and gastrointestinal concerns related to bloating, cravings, heartburn, menstrual cramps, indigestion, and stomach aches in children.
This article will discuss in detail what plants to grow with fennel and what needs to be avoided.
Why Does Fennel Need Companion Plants?
Before listing down fennel companion plants, Let’s discuss why a good gardener talks about placing companion plants. What are their key responsibilities in assisting before setting up further increasing the yield?
Best Fennel Companion Plants
This section will discuss the various other plants that can be grown with fennel, as stated above, along with its benefits. Additionally, it provides the necessary shade that plants require.
1. Lemon
The kitchen-friendly food is high in Vitamin C. This citrus fruit has many valuable nutrients. This yellow-fruit evergreen tree in the Rutaceae family is widely grown. Growing fennel next to Lemon helps to drive away pests that may harm fennel, and its strong aroma keeps the lemon thriving. Citrus butterflies, leaf miners, blackflies, whiteflies, and psyllas are some common pests that cause damage to any citrus plants.
2. Peas
Fennel is a good companion plant for peas as it aims to keep pests away and attract friendly insects, allowing you a better harvest. However, as fennel can be meddling, it’s essential to watchdog and prevent unwanted spread.
3. Lettuce
A commonly grown green leafy vegetable plant used in different cuisines. Planting lettuce next to fennel helps it to grow better because it hinders lettuce bugs. Lettuce is a fast-growing leafy vegetable and is a good companion plant when grown with fennel.
4. Cucumber
Cucumber is the next veggie, and when combined with fennel, it is used in plating salads, making it a good partnership. Fennel prevents the cucumber from causing diseases or attacking pests. Your cucumber will grow healthy and strong if harvested with fennel.
5. Mint
Mint is a low-maintenance, perennial, aromatic flavoring herb as a result, it is extensively used in cooking. These plants can’t cross-pollinate, so there’s no worry about poor-quality hybrid plants for your next season.
6. Sage
Sage is a shrubby plant. Fennel and Sage are aromatic plants both used for cooking and medical purposes. They are edible herbs from the mint family, which makes the two complementary to each other. Sage cannot cross-pollinate with Fennels. Sage grows with little attention.
The only cons Fennel has is that it can overpower sage.
7. Dill
Fennel, together with Dill, belongs to the Apiaceae plant family. One of the few plants that survive with fennel is dill. Fennel is an allelopathic plant that potentially cross-pollinates with Dill. Fennel leaves are much longer than dill. Dill is a flavoring herb; its leaves and seeds contain medicinal properties.
Worst Companion Plants For Fennel
Fennel discourages the growth of its neighboring garden plants. Avoiding bad companions will dodge propagation in your garden.
1. Tomatoes
You cannot plant tomatoes next to fennel as it makes a bad companion. Growing fennel with tomatoes will inhibit the growth of the latter. The fennel roots emit chemicals that further prevent the improper propagation of tomatoes. The chemical reaction it releases under the soil further damages other plants in the queue.
2. Basil
Basil is again a bad companion plant if planted with fennel. It will hinder basil growth; furthermore, it is intoxicant to stunt plant growth. Keeping them apart is the best practice to save your basil from extinction.
3. Peppers
When planted together, it will hinder the plant’s growth. Pests and insects get attracted to peppers, which harms the development of peppers. Again peppers and fennels are found as bad companion plants.
4. Caraway
Caraway, also named meridian fennel, is an aromatic plant. Planting it next to the fennel is not a good idea since it overpowers Caraway by preventing its seed growth.
5. Cilantro
Since fennel and cilantro compete for nutrients, they obstruct each other, stunting growth. The fennel plant releases its chemical when it spreads into the surrounding soil, preventing cilantro growth.
6. Potatoes
Planting Fennel along with Potatoes will result in less growth. Attracting other insects will damage the development of most other plants resulting in slow growth and can kill the plants further.
7. Eggplants
If you grow fennel next to eggplant, it won’t let it grow successfully. Due to the conflicting nature of fennel, it becomes difficult to grow several plants.
8. Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is a German word denoting cabbage and turnip. Fennel disturbs when placed with Kohlrabi and makes a bad partner. The strong essence present in fennel plants attracts insecticides, further destroying other plants in a row.
9. Thyme
This herb contains a strong essence placing it away from the Fennel plant is way better. Furthermore, if placed next to fennel may limit the growth of thyme.
How Far Should Fennel be From Other Plants?
Planting fennel is easy. Being drought-tolerant, it needs no maintenance once rooted. Depending on their variety, fennel should be planted at a minimum distance of 5 to 12 inches apart.
- Fennel plants are abrasive in their growth.
- Fennel roots emit chemicals that prevent improper propagation to other plants.
- They Stunt the growth of other plants.
- The toxicating chemical contained in fennel roots is dangerous for destroying soil nutrients.
- The roots are expansive in size.
What Are Fennel’s Growing Requirements?
Fennels are easy to grow with no or little maintenance. It requires full sunlight and well-drainage. The soil type fennels cultivated is loamy soil rich in the organic presence of pH 6.5 to 8. Fennel dies in autumn and re-grows in spring, restoring the nutritional quality of the soils, it further helps in good produce.
Grass Diseases And Pests
Few plants keep diseases and pests away, protecting your plant by increasing its life. Beneficial insects include bees, wasps, lacewings, butterflies, and syrphid flies attracted to fennel. Whereas Aphids, cutworms, armyworms, and root-knot nematodes are pests.
Conclusion
Fennels are a flavorful and easy-to-grow plant; harvested in late summer. It’s even painstaking for you to take care of your garden before planting certain plants. Perhaps noticing and caring for soil, pests, diseases, and friendly or unfriendly plant types are inevitable for any gardener. Proper garden care will help plants thrive, along with boosting productivity. If you are looking for good companion plants for fennels, consider the options from the above list.
