Florence Fennel
Florence Fennel Foeniculium vulgar var dulce
Florence fennel is an unusual vegetable that can be difficult to grow well. The edible part is the licorice-flavored swollen white base of the leaf stalk. The fine feathery leaves are also delicious. Its short growing season makes fennel or finocchio, a useful catch crop, though it tends to bolt if growth is checked by drought or cold. It can withstand a light frost. There are modern cultivars such as Florence Fennel Zefa Fino
Ideal Site- Florence fennel needs a warm, sunny location, with a moisture-retentive soil. Avoid heavy soils. This crop is pretty enough to plant in an ornamental garden. It is suitable enough to grow in a cool greenhouse or hoop house for an early or late crop. Fennel does well in a site amended with compost from a previous crop. Prior to planting add a low-fertility soil improver. The ideal soil pH range is 5.5-7.5 Seed to Harvest- 10-15 weeks Cultivation- The minimum germination temperature for fennel is 59F (15C). Undercover: Fennel resents root disturbance so cell packs or biodegradable pots are preferable to trays. Sow April-May, using bolt resistance before mid June. Sow mid July- early August for a late crop to grow under cover. Thin to one seedling per cell or pot; harden off before transplanting when they have 3-4 true leaves. Outside: Sow from May – July using bolt resistant varieties before mid June. Station sow seeds in pinches ½ in (1cm) deep at 2 week intervals for a succession of crops until the first frosts. Spacing- Rows: 12 x 12in (30 x 30cm): Block Planting: 12 x 12in (30 x 30cm).
Multi-sowing: Fennel is sometimes eaten as a seedling crop, stir fried with other edible greens. When growing seedling fennel, station sow at 2in (5cm) by 12 in (30cm) and do not thin.
Plant Care- Early and late sowings may require frost protection. Mulch plants with a low-fertility soil improver. Water regularly for maximum tenderness, size, and to avoid bolting. When bulbs are egg-sized, mound up soil one half their height to keep them white and succulent. Problems-Slugs, bolting. Grow bolt-resistant varieties, do not transplant , and water regularly.
Harvesting- Cut bulbs just above ground level when the size of flattened tennis ball. Cut stems often to grow a second crop of tasty leaves to use in salads. Fennel keeps for 2 weeks or more in the fridge, but tends to shrivel when stored too long. Nutrients- Fennel is a good source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, folate, molybdenum, phosphorus, calcium, iron, manganese, copper, and vitamin B3
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