Florence Fennel.....

This year i'd like to grow some Florence Fennel but reading up on it it looks like the odds are stacked against me.....the weather being the biggest problem...i'm still going to give it a go as i'm expecting a great growing season for us all
I was wondering what results any of you good folks have had and was it as difficult to grow as mentioned.....
Thanks

 

I grew it about seven years ago and got a reasonable crop but doubt if I'd tried it last year that it would have done as well. Wasn't difficult to grow - I started it in a propagator and then moved to small pots before planting out.

 

Thanks Dave...i'll give it a go...and hope for some good weather

 

I've found it very prone to bolting. "Christo" Lloyd wrote "I have been experimenting with Florence Fennel for some years making two or three direct sowings annually. If one goes wrong, another may succeed.
The ground needs to be fertile and moisture retaining, with plenty of well rotted bulky organic matter dug into it during the previous winter. Seed can be drilled at intervals, from late May to the end of August. Late-maturing crops have been among my most successful as there is less urge to for the plants to run up to flower. In a frost-free autumn, I have still been cutting good bulbs into November. The young plants should be thinned to not less than 23cm/9in in the row, so that there is no competition between them, otherwise bolting is much likelier before decent bulbs have been made. Bolting is also premature if the developing plants go short of water. While growing fast, they need this in abundance.
If you follow these instructions (and I don't, always, myself, life being full of distractions), you will be the proud producer of larger "bulbs" than you have ever bought at a shop. If there's any danger of their not holding till you're ready to eat them, they should be cut at their peak and will keep well in a plastic bag in the fridge for several weeks."
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gardener-Cook-Christopher-Lloyd/dp/0711217173

 

do you need some seeds lolimac

 

Never grown it, but remember reading info about bolting and the conditions that make it bolt which included sowing before a critical time. Think it was in the RHS veg growing handbook, an excellent volume.

 

Yes Kaz haven't got round to getting any yet.....i've got loads of the wild fennel but not the Florence Fennel.....

 

i will see which fennel i have and pop some in the post

 

lolimac i have 1000 florence fennel seeds how many do you need ?

 

Brilliant Kaz ....i'd like 431...get counting ....a couple of dozen if you can spare them would be great

 

no problem i shall pop in to post tomorrow

 

Funny, I really like fennel when I cook it but I hardly ever buy it and when I do it sits in the fridge for ages. I like it stewed in a tomato sauce.

 

Nice one Kaz