Fennel Bulb

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Avid cooks will enjoy growing fennel. The bulb, the feathery foliage, and even the seeds are excellent for European-inspired cooking.The bulb and stems have an anise (licorice-like) flavor that adds interest to raw salads or vegetable appetizers served with a dip. The leaves are also excellent in salads or served snipped atop fish or chicken. And the seed adds a distinct flavor to Southern Italian-inspired red sauces.Florence fennel, also called bulb fennel, differs from the perennial herb also called fennel in that Florence fennel forms a swollen base at ground level. For best bulb flavor, mound mulch around the base of the plant when bulbs reach 2 inches in diameter.

Fennel Bulb Overview

Genus Name Foeniculum vulgare azoricum
Common Name Fennel Bulb
Plant Type Vegetable
Light Sun
Height 1 to 3 feet
Width 12 to 16 inches
Propagation Seed

Pruning and Harvesting

Begin harvesting leaves when the plant reaches 18 inches tall by snipping tender shoots with scissors. When bulbs reach 3 inches in diameter, dig the whole plant and store bulbs in the refrigerator until needed. The bulbs become tough and stringy if left in the ground too long.

More Varieties of Fennel

'Zefo Fino' fennel

SIP883977

Foeniculum vulgare azoricum 'Zefo Fino' is an early maturing, bolt-resistant variety good for warm-summer regions.

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