Fennel failure

by AngelinaJellyBeana 28th September 2010, 7:42 pm

My fennel has grown into lovely healthy looking plants but it hasn't made bulbs. This is the first time I've grown it. I earthed it up as per instructions but nothing.
I'm just going to let it go to seed now and collect the seeds for cooking and for re-planting next year.
Does anyone grow it regularly and do you have any tips for next year?

by Compostwoman 28th September 2010, 7:46 pm

Silly question probably but was it herb fennel or bulb fennel you grew?

The herb sort will make a bulb, but the bulb varieties do it so much better....

by AngelinaJellyBeana 28th September 2010, 7:58 pm

It was definitely bulb fennel - or so it said on the seed packet

Have been using some of the leaves and stalk for cooking, so have still had the taste I was after, just not the nice bulbs

by Chilli-head 28th September 2010, 8:34 pm

I find that any sort of fennel bolts to seed whatever I do with it. I'm close to giving up, but perhaps one last go ...

by Guest 29th September 2010, 4:05 pm

I've not tried it a I assume it will bolt in the hot and dry summers here (I grow for seed and spectacle - at 8ft high!) but I have seen it grown on the Welsh boarder into good size bulbs. At the time I thought they look like they were planted on the shaded side of a stone wall...but obviously not water logged.

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