Fennel: pick the seeds.

Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 08:41:28 -0400
Sender: HERB.TREARNPC.EGE.EDU.TR
From: Karyn Siegel Maier <HerbalMuse.AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Fennel seeds

> Can anyone give me some ideas on how to store or prepare the surplus of fennel seeds in my yard?

If you intend to use the seeds in baking or other cooking, then you must collect them from the flower heads as soon as they begin to turn brown, or they will fall to the ground to re-seed. I store whole dill seed heads (as you can do with fennel) in paper bags and keep them in a cool, dry pantry in the basement. Fennel seeds are excellent with grilled or broiled fish, chicken, with tomato based soups, and of course, in breads, cakes & cookies.

If the seeds have already fallen to the ground, and are not cleared away, you can expect to see the emergence of new plants in early spring. This may delight you, however you should consider where these plants will grow in relation to the rest of garden. Fennel should be grown in a bed of it's own since most herbs won't do well in its presence, and it will stunt tomatoes and bush beans.