[Yorkie]

My fennel bulbs are starting to send up flowery / frondy shoots from the centre.

I assume this is a clear sign that I should get them out pronto?

I've already dug up 4, and am now heading over to the cooking forum for recipes!

[iwantanallotment]

Mine too, yorkie. The part of the bulb which has sent up the flower is very tough - woody and unusable - but the rest of the bulb is ok to eat  

[Novice]

It sounds like a sign to me. I think you can chop up the fronds and freeze them in ice-cubes. Also, blanch the bulbs then these can be frozen too.

[Yorkie]

Ta, both

Will remove the bit in the middle after taking proud photos of the bulbs  

And then get the rest out of the ground over the next week.

I've sort of ground to a halt after doing courgette chutney and courgette cake this afternoon - from last week's produce!

Perhaps I'll manage a bit more produce-sorting this evening, but then again ..... perhaps not

[jennyb]

mine just don't seem to be forming bulbs - any tips and ideas?

[gardgydja]

Same here Jenny B, mine are still just tiny. I have some seed fennel next to the bulb ones and they are doing very well, huge plants, fair-sized bulbs, and lots of seed. Baffling.

[cawdor2001]

First time with Florence fennel this year Mine are the right size compared to ones in the shops but are not as swollen (if that makes sense), i don't know whether to get them out or levae them, can you leave them in for a while yet and pull as you need them or will they go past their best and go to seed?


Cawdor

[Sadgit]

mine are tiny, well were and now after a week I think they have bolted and the bulbs don't look like bulbs any more