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Fennel Disaster

burgess8bsburgess8bs Posts: 51
in Fruit & veg
Why has my fennel grown like horse radish and no bulb. I have earthed them up, the tops have grown well and were great in salads and cooked in my food.Does any one have an answer so I can have fennel next year.??????????  
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It depends on the type of fennel. Some are more ornamental, and don't produce the edible bulb. They do produce seed and foliage  which is culinary. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • burgess8bsburgess8bs Posts: 51
    Thanx Fairygirl have to order the right seeds for next year. Hope you have a good harvest season.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Florence is the one which produces the bulb. I don't grow it, so I'm not sure of the process.
    I know @Dovefromabove does - so she may see this and be able to give you more info  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • burgess8bsburgess8bs Posts: 51
    HELLO Fairygirl

     New to the forum but find it so helpful Usually just muddle along now Ican get answers to problems.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's excellent for that  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    Hello - I grew Florence Fennel this year.  Once sown in March in the chicken run, which gave me much foliage and no bulb - I put it down to too much nitrogen.  I sowed some more in another part of the veggie garden;  Watered them well.  Mounded them up - same thing more or less - got a bit of bulb but as hard as potatoes!!  I hope @Dovefromabove could help me here.  I have stubbornly sown some more in the winter part of the garden.  They are currently about 6 inches high and yes, I did space them well - 6" between each plant.
    Thanks
    Tui
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • burgess8bsburgess8bs Posts: 51
    Hi Tui pleased its not just me that's having a problem with the fennel, I grew mine in a raised bed with plenty of well roted manure thaught I may have gone a bit over the top but it seems not. Happy gardening
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Hi all, I thought I'd already replied but found this in my drafts:
    Florence (bulbing) fennel is day length sensitive and will nearly always go to seed if germinated before midsummer's day.  It grows very quickly at the height of summer, so it's best to wait until the start of July and then sow directly where they are to be grown, which will leave plenty of growing time.  Don't ever let the soil dry out and you should be good to go.
    You can try sowing some earlier in the year and many should still produce a usefully sized bulb before they start to bolt but you need to keep a constant eye on them and once one shows signs of bolting, harvest them all and freeze any which you can't immediately use.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • burgess8bsburgess8bs Posts: 51
    Hi Bob
    Thanx for the advice will try sowing later next year.Wont let a challenge beat me.
  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    @BobTheGardener   Thank you for that good tip.  I have a few growing now in the shade of the tomato patch.   I weeded and mounded them up yesterday - we then had some light rain, so I hope that will encourage them.  I'll sow some more in hope.  The packet has been open anyway since March.  Cheers Bob!

    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

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