Even in 2023, fennel was the third most important vegetable in our country

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 01. 05. 10:13

Fennel, or Foeniculum vulgare as it is called in Latin, is the most widespread and well-known member of the celery family, the Foeniculum plant genus. It is known as Ánizskapor, but in the southern part of Balaton it is also known as vezérkapor. However, what perhaps less people know about it is that it is both a spice and a medicinal plant, and in terms of cultivation, it was the third most important type of vegetable in Hungary in 2023.

About the plant

Fennel is a herbaceous, heat- and sunlight-loving, perennial plant that belongs to the umbel family. Its greenish or brownish-gray fruits are only a few millimeters wide and 6-10 mm long, with twin pods tapering at the tip. The content of the essential oil accumulated in the fruits is around 2-6%, which also contains fatty oils and protein. The spindle-like root of the plant penetrates deeply and its stem, which reaches up to 2 meters, is erect. It has ash-green, multi-compound leaves and bright yellow, tiny flowers, whose inflorescence is a doubly-compound flat umbel.

“It can be grown well on loam or sandy loam soil with good water management, which is rich in nutrients. It needs the most water during germination and from the start of the stem to flowering. In addition, it does not like cool and rainy weather during flowering, because then fruit set is not suitable”

– said Balázs Kerekes, an employee of Vitafer Hungária Kft.