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Fennel

Nic14Nic14 Posts: 12
in Fruit & veg

Morning all

just wondering when and where to plant it - or even plant it at all - think it attracts whitefly?  Anyway, does it have any companions or enemies?  Thanks

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Posts

  • Nic14Nic14 Posts: 12

    Sorry, the title didnt come up!  My question was about fennel!

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    Good morning Nic image

    Are we talking about fennel the herb, or Florence fennel the vegetable?


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,087

    Florence fennel (bulb) needs full sun, good drainage and frost free conditions.

    I have grown it form seed but these days tend to buy in wee plugs, pot them into small 3" pots to grow on and then plant out.  This gets them pas the awkward slug magnet phase and avoids their being accidentally hoed by OH.

    The flavour of freshly picked fennel, whether eaten raw or cooked, knocks spots of the stuff in shops and even fresh market stalls.

    This chart indicates that annual plants don't like it - http://permaculturenews.org/2011/12/02/companion-planting-information-and-chart/ 

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • OnopordumOnopordum Posts: 390

    I grow the ordinary green fennel in the flower borders and let it seed around as it wants. Just cutting the dead stems out now as it starts to reshoot (nice to leave them standing over winter). No pest problems. The flowers are good for attracting flies.

  • Nic14Nic14 Posts: 12

    Thanks for all those replies!  We're growing the 'bulb' type.  nice to know the flowers are beneficial, i shall just have to remember to whip them off before they set seed.  I have all these visions of how everything will grow but i'm sure its wishful thinking. Started some sweet peppers and french marigolds inside which took well, then moved them out to the greenhouse a couple of days ago.  It wasnt especially cold here ( on the southern edge of the cotswolds/edge of the severn plain) but next morning the marigolds had completely disappeared and the stalks of the peppers were standing all alone, leaves had been bitten off!  I'm guessing a mouse Rather than temperature.   Oh well try again......  Thanks everone.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    image  Lots of info here re growing Florence fennel https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/florence-fennel

    We love eating it so I'm going to try growing it for the first time, if I can squeeze it into my veg patch ... I may have to extend it image 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,087

    If you're very lucky and have a warm summer, swallow tail butterflies may lay eggs and you'll get fat green caterpillars - very civilised as they only eat the frondy bits and don't spoil the bulb.   They like dill too apparently.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    That would be lovely Obelixx - we do get Swallowtails around here http://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-in-norfolk/species-explorer/terrestrial-invertebrates/swallowtail-butterfly

    It would be amazing if we saw them in our garden image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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