Bulb Fennel

[burnie]

Going to seed AGAIN, can't seem to grow this stuff, can it get too hot as it's in the greenhouse?

[Snoop Puss]

I've given up trying to grow bulb fennel in summer. I was told that overwintering fennel is much less keen to bolt. However, I've never tried it as Mr Snoop informed me that he didn't like fennel so it hardly seemed worthy trying to grow it.

[bario1]

It's a cool weather crop, I've never been able to grow it successfully. I think it would prefer it outside though.

[burnie]

Last chance saloon next year outside then(that's a kiss of death for us getting a decent summer)we do cool weather quite well up here lol.

[Deltawhiskey]

Mine are growing in full sun and none have bolted. Perhaps it depends on the moisture content in the soil. Mine is in a raised bed with delivered topsoil which turned out to be mostly clay, hence the high moisture levels.

David

[Penellype]

Fennel likes to be sown late (Jun-Jul), plenty of organic material, plenty of moisture and plenty of sun. It tends to bolt if it gets too little of any of these or if it is sown too early.

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, Penellype. Worth knowing about the late sowing date. I might try it again.

[burnie]

Thanks, Penellype. Worth knowing about the late sowing date. I might try it again.

Me too, but next year now, there's cool and there's the frosts we often get in August.

[TrixC]

Fennel is easy to grow provided you do two things: 1) sow it after the longest day, and 2) water regularly and never let the soil dry out. It's best to sow the seeds where you intend to grow, although I've also had success with transplants. I have clay soil on my allotment and fennel really thrives in the autumn when the soil is moist, I usually sow three batches of seed in July, August and September and I'm picking it up to Christmas.

[Penellype]

Fennel is easy to grow provided you do two things: 1) sow it after the longest day, and 2) water regularly and never let the soil dry out. It's best to sow the seeds where you intend to grow, although I've also had success with transplants. I have clay soil on my allotment and fennel really thrives in the autumn when the soil is moist, I usually sow three batches of seed in July, August and September and I'm picking it up to Christmas.

In that case I think I'll sow some more!

[Snoop Puss]

TrixC, do you sow any particular variety? I just love it in a bechamel sauce au gratin (so who cares that Mr Snoop doesn't like it...).

[Penellype]

I make a fennel and lemon risotto which I part cook and freeze, then when I finish cooking it I add a bit of meat - ham, chicken, prawns, or just some cheese.

[TrixC]

TrixC, do you sow any particular variety? I just love it in a bechamel sauce au gratin (so who cares that Mr Snoop doesn't like it...).

I usually grow Romanesco, although this year I'm also growing some seeds I brought back from Italy, variety Tardivo di Sarno.

[Snoop Puss]

Tardivo - that sounds like it means late. Thanks, I'll look out for them.

Penellype, that sounds delicious.