Florence Fennel bolting - can it be saved? And when to sow (for future reference!)
January Man
Posts: 212
Hi all
I hadn't intended to grow fennel but was given some young plants in late March (so I'm guessing the seed must have been sown in February). I kept them indoors to begin with, and then put them out once any chance of frost had passed. They were doing well but are now bolting 
I have since read that the best way to avoid bolting is to wait until June before even sowing the seed. However, I have watched videos and read of people sowing much earlier than this. So I'm hoping to learn from this and wondered what folk here think is the best time to sow Florence Fennel seed? I'm in Norfolk...
Also, is there anything I can do with my existing plants now that they are starting to bolt? Or have they 'ad it?
Many thanks
Max
Last edited: 20 June 2017 11:50:04
Posts
Use them for vegetable stock or compost or the green frondy bits chopped fine in salads.
I have grown it successfully for years on end by buying plugs in spring and planting in succession. They do like a lot of water so maybe yours were a bit dry?
I have since read it's best to sow after June as this reduces bolting but I have yet to try either method in this new garden as our veg patch is still in the "creation" phase and nothing will be planted there for a few weeks yet. I'll be giving fennel a go in July, I hope.
Is it the hot dry weather causing that?
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
It's an Italian veg so likes heat but needs moisture and doesn't like root disturbance.
The RHS offers this advice on cultivation -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/florence-fennel
Thanks for all the helpful advice. Learning lots!
So just to be totally clear, seeing as it has only just started to bolt, is there any chance that cutting of the flower/seed heads will get it back on track? Or is that 100% wishful thinking?
Cheers
I my experience, wishful thinking. The flower stalk grows thick through the middle and the outer stalks get dry and stringy and none too tasty.
I've never had much success growing bulb fennel. I managed to get the bulbs, to golf ball sized last year before bolting.
Sowed alot later this year and plan to plant out this week.
If they do bolt you can still let them grow and use as you would the herd. It can be grown as a perennial from a bulb, the roots are really deep .
You won't get a really thick bulb unless you grow it in really rich soil, manure, compost the lot. If you just like the flavor, the leaves are very tasty and if you let it flower and go to seed they are very tasty too, especially if you grind them up. Good luck.
All very good and helpful advice. Thanks to all. One has not bolted yet, so I'll be sure to not let that dry and and see what happens. As for the others that have, I'll use what I can in salads. Also, I've been told that if I cut the plants right down to just above soil level, little mini fennels will grow which can again be used in salads.
Plus, plenty of lessons learnt for next year