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Aroma, taste and slimming... In the Garden | Culinary | Fragrance | Medicinal use Popular garden varieties
Florence Fennel | 
Bronze Fennel | 
Fennel Flower |
Top In the GardenGrowth Characteristics: - Perennial, Evergreen, Frost hardy,
- Height: ± 1.5m; Spread: ±80 cm,
- Use it in the garden to add height and a soft feathery effect,
- Prevent seeding, it can become very invasive,
- Florence Fennel:
- A finely foliaged plant with a bulbous, fleshy base, hollow stems and delicate, thread-like, dark olive green leaves,
- Flattened heads of tiny bright yellow flowers.
- Bronze Fennel:
- A superior bronze fennel with a sweet, liquorice flavour,
Cultivation: - Full sun; Well drained, composted soil,
Harvesting: - Pick fresh leaves throughout the year,
- Collect seed when ripe,
Companion Planting: - Do not plant with: Beans, Caraway, Coriander, Dill, Green Peppers, Tomatoe,
- Attracting Beneficial insects: Hoverfly, Wasps,
- Host Plant for: Aphids,
Repellant for: - Cucumber beetle, Mexican Bean beetle, Onion Maggot, Tomato Hornworm,
Top Culinary use- Use leaves, flowers and seed with:
- Cabbage, Cooked Vegetables, Potatoes,
- Fish, Sausages, Stuffings for Oily fish,
- Biscuits, Breads, Cakes, Pasta, Pickles, Salads, Vinegars,
- Indian dishes, Italian dishes,
- The fleshy, white base of Florence Fennel is eaten raw or cooked,
Top Fragrance- Strong Aniseed aroma,
- Seed: Cold tea makes a refreshing facial rinse to help reduce wrinkles and tone the skin,
- Use in facial steams and baths for deep cleansing,
Top Medicinal useFennel may be beneficial in the following cases: | General | - Chewing the seeds freshens stale breath,
- Increase milk in nursing mothers,
- External eyewash or compress for red-eye (conjunctivitis) and blepharitis (eye-lid inflammation),
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| Skin | - Soften and sooth the skin,
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| Respiratory System | - Calming effect on bronchitis and coughs,
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| Digestive system | - Beneficial to digestion, Indigestion, Windy colic in infants, Griping,
- A tea made from the seeds is a mild laxative,
- Nausea,
- Mild appetite suppressant, Obesity,
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| Urinary System | - Water retention (diuretic),
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| Musculo / Skeletal System | - Externally the oil eases mascular and rheumatic pains,
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Preparation and dosage: TEA: - Fresh or dried leaves:
3-4 teaspoons to a teapot, add boiling water.
Dose: Adults: half-1 cup; Infants: 2-3 teaspoons. - Crushed seeds:
Quarter to half a teaspoon to each cup boiling water, infuse for 15 minutes.
Dose: Quarter to half a cup (infants, 2-3 teasponns)
TINCTURE: Adults: Take 2-4ml three times per day. Top
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Tea herbs
