florence fennel in container. is it possible?

[Sarico]

hi i just recived my gyo magazzine and they give you this month a packet of florence fennel seeds... i really want to grow them but i can only grow in containere.. i have about 50 morrison flower pots ( everytime i go shopping i buy some) and i was wondering if is possible grow them in that... any advice on how and when to grow them will be helpfull...
thank you very much....

[Kleftiwallah]

Just follow the instructions on the packet as closely as you can. Fennel have a reputation of 'running to seed' very easily and the remedy seems to be lots of water, so try and reduce (but not block up) the drainage holes in the buckets and use a moisture retaining compost. Best wishes.

Cheers, Tony.

[Creemteez]

I've heard that they are also less likely to run to seed if sown AFTER the longest day in June. Something about the shortening daylight hours encouraging them to make a bulb - rather than seed.
Kleftiwallah is also right - you must not let them dry out.
Hope you have better luck with it than I have in the past. - Won't stop me trying again, though!

[Helgalush]

I tried last year and they did come through but they didnt seem to bulb up. They stayed quite small in girth. I dont know what I did wrong. Wish you success with yours.

[shona_b]

I've got 6 fennel seedlings that I now need to decide what to do with - was just going to put in a row on the plot but was advised they can be invasive as such prolific self seeders. I have a couple of trough planters os could try a couple each in there as should be large enough to retain enough wate. Then again I might just put them in the plot as I do like fennel

[Potstubsdustbins]

As I don't grow florence fennel (finocchio) I refer to my little book which tells me. Well drained sandy soil incorporating some humus, sow 1/2 inch deep in late April. Water when the weather is dry and earth up the bulb when golf ball size, continue earthing up the bulb until tennis ball size then harvest.

With the given spacings I see no problem with growing in black buckets.

Colin

[Sarico]

Thanks for the info. I will put all yours advices and sow some now and some un June when the day are get shorter. Plus my
Little front garden get afternoon sunlight do I may put some over there also in bucket. I think is one per bucket is ok.

[Potstubsdustbins]

One per bucket should be fine for your first year. This will give you chance to observe what happens during the growing season, then you may make adjustments next year.

Colin

[Sarico]

One per bucket should be fine for your first year. This will give you chance to observe what happens during the growing season, then you may make adjustments next year.

Colin

thanks colin. this is a great advice... i will apply on everything...

[cazp]

I considered containers too for these freebie seeds - thought it might be an idea to allow 3 or 4 inches "earthing up" space in the container, as it says about earthing up the bulb part on the packet..... think this would work?

[Potstubsdustbins]

As I posted I haven't grow it myself just quoting the book, but as its says harvest at tennis ball size I would think 4 inches would be enough.

Colin

[Sarico]

colin wich book do you refere... i was looking to buy some good book about growing veg in container but i didn't find anything good.. all of them i found in shop have no much info...

[Potstubsdustbins]

The book I refer to is not specific about containers but the growing info can be adapted.

The New Vegetable & Herb Expert by Dr D. G. Hessayon. ISBN 0 903505 46 0.

My book is a few years old 1999 so there may well be an updated version now. For good general advice it is well worth while.

Colin

[taff]

I grew them last year, didn't sow until June, then planted them out.About half bolted [ I can't remember how many, there were at least 10]. There's also not a lot of time between them being ready to eat, and then bolting as I found out, I'm talking a day or two
They were grown outside in the ground, but I reckon you could fit two to a bucket [or 3 but that may be a push]

[Sarico]

The book I refer to is not specific about containers but the growing info can be adapted.

The New Vegetable & Herb Expert by Dr D. G. Hessayon. ISBN 0 903505 46 0.

My book is a few years old 1999 so there may well be an updated version now. For good general advice it is well worth while.

Colin

thanks colin i found on amazon and was even cheap.. only a fiver with the shipping... great...