Fennel , should I plant some now?

[CimaDirapa]

I want a longer season of Fennel.

I read in Joy Larckom's GYOV book that there are two types of fennel. My only pack of seeds which I used now for three years I got originally from the Real seed web site and are called Fennel Collosal, on the pack it said to plant around June which I always did and had good crops around September. My question is regarding the more early type mentioned in the book, do any one know which variety is the one to plant now for early mid summer crop?

[veggiechicken]

Is the early one herb Fennel? Not the bulbing sort

[CimaDirapa]

It's creating flat bulb Vegetable Seeds : Fennel Seed Just noticed they added a spring sowing type.

[veggiechicken]

That's what I mean by the bulb fennel, sown mid summer and an annual.
Herb fennel has the same sort of feathery leaves and aniseed flavour but is a perennial and does not form a bulb.
I don't know of a bulb fennel that is sown early in the year, sorry.

[Newton]

I have just sown some early bolt resistant Florence fennel from real seeds. I will sow the regular fennel in a few weeks time.

Love fennel......

[Vince G]

Sown some florence fennel in modules indoors last weekend. Hopefully should be fit to plant out end of May-ish.

[Florence Fennel]

I sowed some FF "Firenze" from T & M (I think) a couple or three weeks ago and they have just popped up. They're in the cold stayput for now, to hopefully go out end of May. First time for me, but thought I'd best have a go!

[shona_b]

oh - maybe I have been a bit too eager - my florence fennel seedlings are in the allotment under cut off plastic bottles.....look OK but maybe a tad too early?

[bearded bloke]

Is the early one herb Fennel? Not the bulbing sort

Could well be VC,my bronze & green varieties are all ready up & running (cut some as a garnish for lemon sole a couple of weeks ago) currently about 10" tall should get up to above 4ft by mid summer

[CimaDirapa]

I sowed some FF "Firenze" from T & M (I think) a couple or three weeks ago and they have just popped up. They're in the cold stayput for now, to hopefully go out end of May. First time for me, but thought I'd best have a go!

Update on the FF plan,

I found an open open pollinated variety called 'white perfection' (50p for 25 seeds at moreveg) so ordered this and will germinate in modules in the unheated poly.

I do find Moreveg approach to fewer seeds quiet refreshing, I always end up giving or throwing away old seeds. The problem is that when it is only 50p I do tend to order few more varieties even tho space in summer is at premium.

This time I also ordered 40 seeds of scorzonera, I suspect a rejection from my family once it's on the plate

[bearded bloke]

any one know which variety is the one to plant now for early mid summer crop?

Now is the right time for sowing this green variety .... Herbs, Fennel Seeds ... don't know how much crop you will get this year (mine were acquired 2 years ago as established bulbs),but it will certainly give a good early start next year

[veggiechicken]

Could well be VC,my bronze & green varieties are all ready up & running (cut some as a garnish for lemon sole a couple of weeks ago) currently about 10" tall should get up to above 4ft by mid summer

Mine's the same BB. I love the smell, can't resist snapping off a bit each time I pass - makes me think of warm evenings and fish BBQs.

[bearded bloke]

Soon be mackerel & bass beach fishing time again

[veggiechicken]

.... and I know just the plaice!

[CimaDirapa]

I sowed some FF "Firenze" from T & M (I think) a couple or three weeks ago and they have just popped up. They're in the cold stayput for now, to hopefully go out end of May. First time for me, but thought I'd best have a go!

Can't believe it's your first time FF, thought you are the prime fennel expert on this board, good luck with this year FF crop, one of the best veg out there in my opinion.