Tips for fennel growing

[Icyberjunkie]

Having seen some very nice fennel growing on someones plot I am considering growing it next year.   Can anyone who has already done so give me some pointers.  eg is it planted in rotation with onions?  Is it best to plant seed or do you buy fennel sets? ,  Is it easy or hard to grow?  What are the pitfalls?

Have read some blurb but never 100% trust it!!

[Icyberjunkie]

[wardy]

Bulb fennel (Selma) we grew for the first time on our plot last year.  We have done lots more this year as they were so popular (communal plot I help out on)

They are delicious and easy to grow and not fussy at all.  We grow some in open ground and some on a raised bed and both do equally well.  Don't think insects bother with them which makes them even better news to grow.

I love them and they are delish in casseroles, soups, salads.  I'm a convert and I'll be growing them in my own lotty next year for sure  :)

[john_miller]

As Wardy says they are pest free but they are in the carrot family (Apiaceae) should you wish to put them in a rotation but you do not need to avoid recently manured ground as they are not a root crop. An easy vegetable to grow, they can be propagated in modules and planted out- they are slow to grow initially which will reduce the weeding necessary at this stage. Try to avoid older varieties as the newer ones are less prone to bolting if they are moisture stressed. I'm not familiar with Selma (which makes me think it might be a newer one) but I have grown Zefa Fino for years. It was the first one with good drought resistance and has proven very dependable for me.

[Icyberjunkie]

Thanks for that.  I love fennel and especially great when roasted under chicken but never thought to grow it being under the impression it was a greenhouse jobby!   

Now I am armed with some more facts will definately being trying it out. 

Iain

[wardy]

Do you know every reply I've done tonight has timed out and disappeared. I've been online about an hour and posted nothing yet.  Grrr

What I was going to say is that you'll not regret growing your own fennel

[BAGGY]

My tip is not becoming too smug.  The forst year I just bunged it in and it all came up lovely.  This year nothing.  Nil.  Nada.  Zilch.  I had heard that it was difficult due to bolting so was really impressed that it had turned out ok.  So this year it caught me out. Humph.

[wardy]

Too true Bags.  Now I've opened my big mouth about how easy growing fennel is I will prob be doomed from this day forward never to succeed growing a single bulb  ;D