If it's the vegetable you want, make sure the seed packet you buy is
Florence fennel. Both types have feathery foliage that is both beautiful and edible, but only
Florence fennel produces bulb-like stems.
For some reason, other vegetables don't grow well with
Florence fennel, so it's best to grow it in a separate bed, so it doesn't disturb them.
Timing is important when growing
Florence fennel. Once the bulb has formed it should be harvested quickly; if left the plant will send up a flowering spike using the energy stored in the bulb which will shrink overnight!
Many tulips and bedding hyacinths need to be lifted annually and stored, ready for re-planting in autumn * Tie in new canes of blackberries and hybrid berries separately from the fruiting canes, so they don't blow about and damage the fruiting canes * Sow beetroot, Swiss chard,
Florence fennel and turnips
It's actually a herb but the bulb variety,
Florence fennel, is what you're more likely to see on the greengrocer's shelves, and is what we're using here.
Florence fennel provides a delicious aniseed-flavoured addition to many dishes, while its leaves can be used in garnishes and salads.
Florence fennel is another less common vegetable found on most supermarket shelves these days.
Wants: non-hybrid vegetable seeds, including leeks, celery, brussels sprouts, carrots, onions, wax beans, arugula, globe artichoke, endive, pickling cucumber,
Florence fennel, sunflower, beet, garlic and parsnip
Vegetables Tomatoes, globe artichoke, beetroot (new season), broad beans, French beans, runner beans, broccoli, capsicums and chillies, Chinese cabbage, cucumber,
Florence fennel, garlic (mid-summer onwards), peas, radishes, rocket, sorrel, spinach, spring onions.
Beetroot, Swiss chard,
Florence fennel, and turnips can still be sown.
These peculiar shaped peas which have four flat sides and turned up corners are a speciality on my dinner plate and, to cap it all, my
Florence fennel are swelling up into perfect white, ball like roots.