When to harvest fennel?

[Caro]

Hi all,

I have lovely feathery fennel growing away happily in my new raised bed. I realise I can snip the frondy bits off and use in cooking, but when can I harvest the actual bulb? When will I be able to tell if they're ready? Also, if it's the bulb I really want, can I restrict vertical growth of the leaves so that they don't shade anything else (newbie error, planted in the wrong place )

Also, a couple of years ago, I planted fennel in what was a poor attempt at a herb patch. However, the fennel there has thrived and is huge this year. When can I harvest this lot, and will it have divided into several bulbs?

Many thanks

Caro

[taff]

The fennel you eat - you should be able to see the bulb above the soil, once it gets to a size you think you want to eat it, cut it level with the soil, then you should get some shoots off whats left to eat too, but they won't form new bulbs. Don't cut the foliage down, but you can probably stake it and tie them in a bit.

The herb fennel - it has a long taproot, and I'm not sure whether you can propogate from that, probably better off just sowing more seeds for next year. It won't divide into bulbs but you can use the roots and every other bit of it too. You can harvest it whenever you feel like, either the fronds for cooking, or leave it to seed for the seeds.

[Rocketron]

Unless you're growing Florence fennel, you won't get bulbs. If you are you will see them forming above the soil and you can choose when you think they are large enough.
No need to restrict height as the stems and fronds don't get wide enough to cause shade.

[rustylady]

Are you sure you're growing the right type of fennel? Florence fennel is what you need for bulbs

[teakdesk]

Also, a couple of years ago, I planted fennel in what was a poor attempt at a herb patch. However, the fennel there has thrived and is huge this year. When can I harvest this lot, and will it have divided into several bulbs?

That sounds like Fennel Herb and not Florence Fennel !!

[taff]

eating fennel/florence fennel
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/61...a0198992_m.jpg

herb fennel
http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/200...rbs/fennel.jpg
[you can just about see the flowers on the top]

[Woofster]

I am growing Florence fennel for the first time. It is growing fine but is starting to flower while not yet having developed a bulb at the base. Will it do so, or has it bolted and will now not produce a bulb ?

[SMS6]

I don't think it's going to bulb up if it's starting to flower. This usually happens to me - lots of top growth then straight to seed.

I have a few this year that are actually bulbing up

[Caro]

Aha, now it's all clear. I never realised there were eating and non-eating types of fennel. But what I have in the failed herb patch looks just like the herb fennel picture, and my raised bed fennel is indeed Florence Doesn't look like the picture yet, but there's still time and at least now I know what I'm looking for!

Thank you to everyone for explaining this to me.

Can't wait for yummy fennel later in the year!

Caro

[taff]

Aha, now it's all clear. I never realised there were eating and non-eating types of fennel.

I'm not going to tell you about the time....yes I am... when I asked this bloke in work "so, do you make the mounds and then put the potatoes in?"
Oh how he laughed....now where's that 'embarassed' smiley?

[Rocketron]

Aha, now it's all clear. I never realised there were eating and non-eating types of fennel. But what I have in the failed herb patch looks just like the herb fennel picture, and my raised bed fennel is indeed Florence Doesn't look like the picture yet, but there's still time and at least now I know what I'm looking for!

Thank you to everyone for explaining this to me.

Can't wait for yummy fennel later in the year!

Caro

As I understand, now is a good time to sow Florence Fennel. They are less likely to bolt in the cooler weather of autumn.

[Caro]

I've double checked ... the fennel I planted in my raised bed is from Sutton's "Italian Kitchen" range, and is apparently Finocchio Mantovano. So I assume it will produce the edible bulbs!

As for bolting, no sign of it yet, fingers crossed... the packaging says sow direct in May/June - presumably if they all bolt, it's too late to start over.

Thanks again to everyone,

Caro

[Caro]

The rotten things went and bolted on me, after all that fretting about whether they were the right type or not!

Was it just the weather in Scotland this year? Maybe my late start, as I could only get going in May.

Oh well, will think about whether to try next year...

Thanks

Caro

[binley100]

Apparantly if you sow them after the longest day they are less inclined to bolt, something to do with days getting shorter. You also need to keep them well watered, I grew them for the first time this year. First lot of seedlings went in a rabbit attack so I started them off in loo roll middles at home then put them in when they had got going and have had a lovely crop.

[Caro]

Doh !!!

So while almost everything else got started late on my plot, the fennel was early ????

Ah well, I'm looking forward to year 2, and hopefully being a bit more organised and getting things better planned during the cosy nights in of winter

Caro