How to intercrop fennel
How to intercrop fennel
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) is a Mediterranean herbaceous plant of the Apiaceae family known since ancient times for its aromatic properties; its horticultural cultivation seems to date back to the 16th century.
This plant is widely cultivated in vegetable gardens for the production of the grumolo, a compact structure made up of the set of leaf sheaths, which are whitish in colour, fleshy, closely pressed together around a very short conical stem, directly at the level of the ground.
Its white color is given by the bleaching technique: it involves earthing up and is carried out at regular intervals during the development of the bud or at least two weeks before harvesting.
The harvesting of the buds takes place in all seasons, according to the production areas. It adapts to any medium-textured soil with the presence of organic substance.
For cultivation, the plants are arranged in rows and spaced about 25 cm apart. The harvest of the grumolo takes place approximately 90 days after sowing. It requires frequent and abundant irrigation and prefers a temperate Mediterranean climate.
However, as with other plants, fennel takes advantage of the intercropping technique; together with other plants that can alternate in the row, in the inter-row or between the rows.
Fennel can be associated with various plants; among these we remember cucumbers, chicory and lettuce but also carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, courgettes and lettuces. During cultivation they should instead be kept away from the beans.
Fennel is a plant that therefore benefits very well from intercropping with some other plants. Among these we report some of them with their synergistic actions:
Carrots: Intercropping with carrots is a common practice. Fennel can help repel carrot fly larvae, while carrots can repel aphids that can attack fennel.
Tomatoes: Tomatoes can help protect fennel from pests and can provide partial shade, as fennel prefers cool weather.
Cabbage: Intercropping with cabbage can help repel cabbage butterflies and aphids, as fennel can be used as a “trap” to lure them away from cabbage.
Cucumbers: Cucumbers can provide light shade for fennel and, at the same time, do not compete much for resources.
Zucchini: Zucchini can be planted near fennel without competing too much for resources and can provide light shade.
Lettuce: Lettuce can be planted near fennel, as it grows well in partial shade and doesn’t compete too much for resources.
Finally, when choosing the plants to be combined, it is necessary to check their compatibility with the pedoclimatic conditions where fennel is grown.