Florence Fennel

Type: Vegetable

Rotation Group: 2, Roots and Onions


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ROMANESCO

Romanesco has big round bulbs weighing between 500g and a massive1kg. It has a high bolting resistance and is best grown for late cropping.
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RONDO

Rondo is a quick growing variety with uniform, round white bulbs. This variety is good for summer and autumn production.
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CHIARINO

Known as finocchio in Italy, where it is widely used in many recipes (try it braised in milk or cream), this fast-growing strain yields large, tight, white 'bulbs' with the aniseed flavour which is the hallmark of Florence fennel. The foliage is delightful added to salads.
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SWEET FLORENCE

Sweet Florence is the old traditional variety which is best used for later summer sowings when bolting is not normally a problem. It has a fine flavour and the leaves can be used as a herb in fish dishes etc.

Site, Soil and Preparation

Choose a well drained, sheltered site that has been manured in the previous season.

Indoor Sowing

Sow seeds thinly in individual modules filled with seed or potting compost from April to July. Seeds need a temperature of 15C to germinate.

Outdoor Sowing

Seeds should be sown and brought on to seedlings indoors.

Thinning

As the seedlings start to develop their true leaves thin them to leave one plant per module.

Transplanting

When the seedlings have developed 4 true leaves plant them out at 300mm (1ft) spacings in rows 450mm (1.5ft) apart.

Care

Water regularly and hand weed between the plants. Add a mulch to help the soil to retain moisture. As the plants grow and begin to swell at the base earth them up to help blanch the bulbs.

Harvest

Harvest the bulbs when they have swollen but do not leave to long as the plants may start to bolt.