Fennel

[flowerlady]

How long can I leave globe fennel in the ground?

Can it cope with frost?  The fronds looked very sad and floppy today!! :'(

[flowerlady]

[john_miller]

It will only withstand a light frost if it has been hardened off by gradually falling temperatures. Any part of the bulb that has cold damaged tissue will be "clear" instead of the normal white.

[flowerlady]

Do you earth up your fennel? 

have been given conflicting advice,  :-\ and in the end decided not to!

[ellkebe]

Didn't earth mine up this year - as you say, conflicting advice - but think I will next year as bulbs were quite small.

[blight]

@elkebe,
i actually prefer them rather small. i sow them rather close together (10cm) and pick them young. (sept/oct)

[jennym]

Are you talking about Foeniculum vulgare? bulb fennel? I haven't ever grown or had this, what is it like?

I understand it has an aniseed flavour, is this so? how would you describe it?

[blight]

yes i do. bulb fennel, or florentine fennel. i always found the big bulbs too coarse in flavour. a few years ago i had some small ones as a side dish to braised chicken in a restaurant. they had been cut through the middle, braised as well till very slightly charred. delicious and attractive-looking (still pale green right though)

[derbex]

Mine stood through the winter last year and I was using it in spring.

The current lot was looking a bit sad last time I was at the lottie though.

Jeremy

[flowerlady]

My bulbs stayed quite 'flat'!!

I know I was late to start the season, but they do taste so good when braised in a little olive oil and butter with lots of pepper!! ;D

[ellkebe]

Blight, may try that next season as they were a little coarse this time.  Plus, that way I can grow more  ;D

Jennym - totally delicious veg.  Well worth trying - I could spare some seed if you'd like to give them a go - -?

[blight]

@elkebe,
in the garden books, they tell you not to sow fennel after 10th july (germany) because they are then prone to go to seed. but there are varieties now that tolerate just that. so you might try continuous sowing from may till august

[derbex]

I think you may need different varieties to get your succession -mine (Alorza?) doesn't like an early sowing and seems to do best sown in July or August.

jeremy

[jennym]

... We used 'Selma'.... 

ok, you've won me over, that's on the list then!

[ellkebe]

Jennym - have pm'd you  :)

[Derekthefox]

Somehow I have missed trialling this as a vegetable too, I will have to pick some seed up next time I am at Ryton ...

Derekthefox :D

[Obelixx]

Derek - there were some good recipes in a fennel thread on this board back in July and another one in recipes in August.  You should definitely give it a go.  It's delicious cooked or raw.

[Derekthefox]

Thank you ladies, I feel well motivated to try fennel this year, having now discovered the delights of pumpkin, fennel could be the next 'new' vegetable for me!

Derekthefox :D