Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Mrs Ava on January 08, 2004, 20:18:43

Title: Fennel
Post by: Mrs Ava on January 08, 2004, 20:18:43

Can you tell me, is sweet fennel and florence fennel one and the same?

;D

Title: Re: Fennel
Post by: cleo on January 08, 2004, 20:28:22

Yes EJ-it is. Some varieties bulb up better than others and I am a fan of `Rudy`

Stephan

Title: Re: Fennel
Post by: tim on January 08, 2004, 20:39:23

- glad you answered, Stephan - I was thinking 'vulgare dulce' - that's 'sweet'? Wrong - that's 'dolce'??

Whatever - lovely stuff - baked, raw, you name it! = Tim

Title: Re: Fennel
Post by: Doris_Pinks on January 09, 2004, 00:24:12

Love the stuff, but I had a disasterous time growing it last year.my slugs seem to love it too! Has anyone sown it in plugs and put in when fairly large and relatively slugproof?

Title: Re: Fennel
Post by: Mrs Ava on January 09, 2004, 00:26:29

Fab! ;D  Got given sweet fennel seeds, and now I know!  Never grown it before though and as the seeds were given rather than bought, I have no instructions....help?  ;D

Title: Re: Fennel
Post by: Doris_Pinks on January 09, 2004, 00:35:00

Me book says..and I quote!!!   Soil.....moisture retentive, light and sandy, prefers ideal PH of between 6 & 7 (mine just got bunged in as per usual!)
Site......Prefers a protected position in full sun (good luck on my site!)
Watering.......Do not allow to dry out or it will bolt. (however it should not be waterlogged!??)
Feeding.........PLanting ground should be thoroughly manured before sowing
General.how regularly to keep weed free & Mulch, earth up for support.
Says sow spring & early summer.this always confuses me as it depends on where you are and when you think spring is!!
Hope this helps  ;D

Title: Re: Fennel
Post by: Mrs Ava on January 09, 2004, 00:56:03

Cheers Doris.  Everything I could need to know.  I don't think the rest of my clan will eat it, but I will  ;D.

I have always had trouble deciding when Spring starts.  Tend to assume March, but we still get frosts, and my mum got married on the last day of Feb, and had thick snow on her wedding day!

Title: Re: Fennel
Post by: aquilegia on January 09, 2004, 12:17:19

I always assume spring starts at the end of March. But that's probably because it's when it says it on my calendar!

excuse the thread hijacking...

Is fennel easy to grow? Does it take up much space? Are seeds easy to come by?

I love the stuff and would love to give it a go in my veg patch.

Title: Re: Fennel
Post by: john_miller on January 10, 2004, 16:07:53

 Fennel is very easy to grow. Even given my less than conducive conditions the the variety 'Zefa Fino' has proven reliable.
 DP- I do all my fennel from plugs. No problems.

Title: Re: Fennel
Post by: Doris_Pinks on January 10, 2004, 18:34:02

Thanks John, will give it a go!