Now fennel has a bit of a reputation as the primadonna of the plot, prone to sulking and taking its bulb home as it were. Funnily enough, I've never had any such trouble - takes one to grow one perhaps. First thing to know is that there are cousins: the aforementioned stocky lady, Florence, and her promiscuous tall lanky relatives Herb and his darker brother Bronze. The latter two are a striking presence in any setting - I go for their looks and that prolific seed, used in curries etc.
For bulbs you need a bulbing, Florence or Finocchio fennel. Unlike her cousins, Florence may not turn up for a date as scheduled and so sow 3 or 4 seeds at 15-20cm intervals in one place and thin to one once germinated. Supposedly, if she is too hot, cold, wet, dry or has a headache, she bolts and you get a lot of hard stem and not too much of her exquisite clothing. The one pictured was sown in May and served up in a risotto verde with some broad beans and courgettes on Friday. Apparently, the bolting is less of a problem when sown after midsummer, so sow now for braising in red wine in the autumn.
Talk about closing the stable door....
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fantastic insight into the fickle work of fennel it didnt mention any of that on my packet of seeds! Still i have enjoyed watching them grow and i think I have one or two bulbs there. Can you clarify what the spacing between seedlings should be as well as i think mine were too packed as well. Can i plant some more now or is it too late? You live an learn eh looks like we are in for a lot of beetroot and garlic soup this year - think my new blog name should be the "constantly shit gardener"
Sow as thickly as you like but you must must must (must) thin to 15-20cm. Get some in now, they'll be ready for mid October as long as there's no early frost(just cover them if there is).
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