Fennel is one of the most misunderstood foods you can plant in your garden. So many people, including lots of skilled food gardeners, just don’t know how to grow it or how to cook with it—so they skip fennel altogether. And that’s a big mistake!

If you’re like me, you want to enjoy growing and eating fresh foods from your garden. And fennel is no exception!

Read this collection’s Introduction to learn the basics about fennel, starting with the history of fennel so you’ll know where it got started and how easy it is to grow. Then, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get details about planting, nurturing, and harvesting your fennel.

Even if you’re an advanced food gardener, be sure to read the entire collection, because there’s a lot to know about growing fennel. We’ve pulled together all the information you need to take on this easy-to-grow and often-overlooked garden crop.

Check out Plant Profiles to find out about seven popular varieties of fennel, including details about each plant’s characteristics.

As always, we’ve included a carefully chosen assortment of easy and delicious fennel Recipes, including salads, sides, main dishes—and even a dessert that uses fennel! You’ll be especially proud to serve these dishes when you can also say that you grew the fennel yourself.

Next, you’ll learn Nutrition Facts about Fennel to find out exactly which nutrients are found in fennel, and to what degree. Health Benefits of Fennel explains why fennel is considered a healthful food that makes it worthy of growing in your garden.

To help you explore fabulous fennel even further, we’ve included a Resources section that is complementary to this collection. We aim to give you everything you need to grow, harvest, and eat delicious fennel, but you can take a deeper dive into these additional resources by visiting the links provided.

Finally, you’ll find a brief Glossary at the end of this collection in case you need a fuller explanation of any key terms and concepts.

So, be not afraid of fennel! Go ahead, be adventurous—I guarantee that you won’t regret giving fennel a try in your garden. Get started right now and be the best fennel gardener—and cook—that you can be.