Topic: Florence Fennel & Dill

[Mrs Ava]

I have both growing very quickly in my cold greenhouse.  Am I correct in thinking the fennel is tough and should be planted out now, whereas the Dill should wait until there is no (well less) risk of frost?  I have also read that they shouldn't be planted near each other due to cross pollination, so opposite ends of the lottie  ???

[john_miller]

Properly hardened of both can take a light frost. Fennel is Foeniculum vulgare, dill is Anethum graveolens. This means that although both are in family Umbelliferae they are in different genera. Without human intervention (i.e. G E) they cannot cross.

Two links summarising inadvertant cross breeding as pertaining to GE;
http://www.biotech-info.net/cross_pollination2.html
http://www.non-gm-farmers.com/news_details.asp?ID=11

[Multiveg]

I think you have sown your Florence fennel way way to early as it is very prone to bolting. I think it was on GQT where Bob Flowerdew said to sow in late July....

[tim]

There's no holding the girl back!

 I'm sowing mid-May. = Tim

[cleo]

Hi EJ-Dill grows like a weed-let some self seed and you will see how tough it is. But now to Fennel-much as I respect Mr Flowerdew he has no idea when it comes to Fennel-get it out as soon as it is ready and pile on the water,sow regularly(It will transplant- forget the `experts`) and you will have it throughout the season.  And if you twist them out as opposed to digging you will get late regrowth that will provide stems for the stock pot.

Sorry to ramble on- but I know my ground here-and `Rudy` is a great variety.

Stephan.

[Multiveg]

Maybe Bob Flowerdew was talking to a weekend gardener who can't nip down the plot to water daily.

[john_miller]

Watering daily is something to be avoided. Stephan said pile on the water, not the same thing. I irrigate mine once a week but make sure it has gone down further than I can dig with my fingers (not very scientific!) before I finish. Even in the 30C/15C day/night swings in August the variety Zefa Fino is totally reliable for me. I have to make that harvest time as California does not produce fennel at that time of year (too hot there) and the wholesale price doubles! So I sow in May for that time slot. The older varieties of fennel are not heat resistant and would have to be sown in the summer for autumn harvest.

[Mrs Ava]

Ta chaps.  Have been hardening it off and it is looking rather spiffing in it cells so will get out out   ;) next visit.  Glad to know I haven't got to water daily, with no onsite water other than our teeny tiny stream, only the needy will be watered.

[derbex]

Just to second the earlier comments the first ones of mine did the best -my main problem was slugs eating the directly sown ones, they bought tap shoes to dance on my eggshells :(

Jeremy

[Multiveg]

Just read in Bob's Organic Bible what he says about Florence Fennel - tis different from what he said on GQT!

It is best sown early or in the middle of summer in situ or in cells. Planted out when very small a foot or so apart. Do noe let the plants ever dry out otherwise they bolt as will many early sowings...

As for Dill - don't plant them out near carrots, but you could plant them by cabbages, lettuce, onions, sweetcorn, cucumber as it repels aphids and spider mites. It appears to hybridise with fennel. If you let a couple of the dill flower, the flowers attract hoverflies, and bees (though Bob finds otherwise with the latter).

[cleo]

Fair comment-nice to see that Bob listens to me ;D ;D.

Stephan.

[Mrs Ava]

PLanted my fennel out this morning, looks loverly!  Now, will I get to the plot tomorrow and find the lot gone?  What I mean is, do the pigeons like fennel too?  They seem to like just about everything else except my onions and lettuce!  >:(