[oldsod]

I'm thinking of growing some fennel. But have heard that  need sandy soil! could i just dig some sharp sand around the area. any tips welcome on the best way to begin.

[DD.]

Good luck, all mine & my fellow plots holder's ran straight to seed last year!

[BobandJack]

I grew fennel on slatey, pretty dodo soil & it really thrived.  It's a fabulous plant for attracting hoverflies which are great pollinators but don't let it actually seed or you'll never see the end of it, you can use the seeds for cooking though.

[Yorkie]

I just bunged my seeds in on soil which isn't sandy - it's clay but a bit dry 'cos of tree roots - and it thrived on neglect!

[bomere]

I have no problem at all.

Sowed it, thinned out  and did nothing else until time to harvest. If you can getit established it is very easy to grow.

[Christine]

Yes we all had bolted bulb fennel last season but it tasted just fine even so.

[oldsod]

Thanks to all of you for the fennel advice. I'm  just going to whack it in with a touch of sand. just to keep faith with Dr Hessayon as well as your goodselves. Nothing ventured etc...

   

[woodburner]

Ours is growing well on clay soil. I think that as long as it's not compacted and claggy, it'll be fine.

[brinylon]

Are you talking about florence (bulbing) fennel, or the herb? The herb will happily grow, self seed etc (which is ok, since it atracts beneficial insects), but the bulb seems to take fright at the first opportunity. I have now given up - the bolted bulbs tasted nice and I even managed to swallow some...

[woodburner]

Are you talking about florence (bulbing) fennel, or the herb? The herb will happily grow, self seed etc (which is ok, since it atracts beneficial insects), but the bulb seems to take fright at the first opportunity. I have now given up - the bolted bulbs tasted nice and I even managed to swallow some...

Ooh good point,  I was talking about the feathery variety with yummy seeds. I've never tried the bulb variety as I'm not particularly fond of it. 

[oldsod]

I am talking about the bulb type. We really enjoy eating it. Very nice baked and also thinly sliced with a creamy sauce, garlic etc...

 

[Benandbill]

Thought I'd revive this thread rather than get  a slapped wrist for starting a new one, this seems to be the most relevant one I could find to my question.

Having looked at the comments so far I hadn't even realised before there were herb varieties and bulb ones.  We were given a seed packet a few weeks ago but the language and therefore the instructions on the packet are in a language I don't understand.  After several weeks of outdoor germination seeds have started to come through and actually look as though they're doing quite well in the seed tray.  However, I have no idea really when they're ready to plant out.  Could anyone with an idea about growing this give me any ideas?  From the picture on the packet I'd say they look like the bulb variety.  Also, someone mentioned above about them getting 'established' - is it a very long growing season?  Any info at all would be welcome 

[Yorkie]

Can you tell what the variety is called - what does the packet say about the name?

Here's the link on the main website to the bulb fennel growing instructions:
http://www.allotment-garden.org/grow-your-own/fennel.php

[Benandbill]

We've only kept the top, it says FINOCCHIO DI NAPOLI (obviously Italian then  ).  We were given another which says FINOCCHIO WADENROMEN, but it's the Napoli one we've planted.  Anyway, that gives me something to go on so I'll look it up somewhere.  Thanks, Yorkie, and thanks for the link also

[Yorkie]

Couple of Italian fennels on the real seeds website too, for reference:

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/fennel.html