ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the origin and distribution, nutritional composition, medicinal values, climatic requirement, soil requirement, cultivated varieties and post-harvest management of florence fennel. Florence fennel grows wildly in temperate Europe, but it is usually considered indigenous to the Mediterranean region where it has been cultivated since the seventeenth century and from where it spread eastwards to India. Fennel's bulbs are used in salads, vegetables and chicken soups, grilled fish dishes and served with puddings. Florence fennel requires regular irrigation to keep the soil sufficiently moist throughout the growing season. It is used in pharmaceutical preparations due to its useful properties, phytonutrients, antioxidants and lots of vitamin C content. Aphid, thrips, striped flea beetle and black cutworm are the insect pests that attack florence fennel during growing season. Stem rot, late blight, powdery mildew and bacterial soft rot are the diseases that attack florence fennel during its lifetime.
