Fennel

Does anyone have any experience of growning fennel. Had some to eat at the weekend for the first time and it was delicious. I looked in my usual gardening book and it looked really complicated. I'm hoping someone has some tips to reassure me its not as complicated as it seems

 

If you are talking about florence fennel, it really isn't difficult to grow if we get a warm summer. Earth up when about golf ball size and pick before they start to get woody. Don't let them get too dry or be tempted to sow too early as if there is a cold snap and check to growth they can run to seed.
Well worth a try!!!

 

I grow fennel just for the attractive foliage

 

I grow both bronze and 'normal' fennel for their lovely foliage, and for the hoverfly which love the flowers, and come in their loads! The birds also like the seeds. It freely self seeds around the garden too - I have never had any trouble growing it whatsoever.

I think this is a different variety of fennel to the 'florence' though where you eat the bulbous stem, but the feathery fronds of the 'common' one I grow are tasty themselves!

 

Thanks everyone, i think i will give it a try, not much to lose really and much to gain and put down to experience.

 

When I lived on the IoW, a neighbour grew some fennel and it was / still is I believe the bane of everyone's lives! It seeds itself virtually everyone and has roots that go down to hell.

It may well be an experience, sharon! :eek:

 

I only have experience of buying it...
It is not the cheapest of vegetables, but I love it finelly cut in a salad and saisoned with salt,vinegar and olive oil.

 

I have two types of fennel for two years and no problems with it. I use it for salads, when cooking fish and many other dishes. I cannot do without it now.