growing fennel in melbourne

How do you grow fennel in Melbourne?

To grow fennel successfully, grow it in an open, sunny position. It requires rich soil for good bulb development so Tino adds plenty of manure. Fennel also likes the soil to be well-drained, so Tino works everything through well to create a light and fluffy soil.

Does fennel come back every year?

Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare, is a short-lived perennial with some types hardy in zones 4-9 but is often grown as an annual in cooler climates. Native to southern Europe along the Mediterranean Sea, this plant in the carrot family (Apiaceae) has sweetly aromatic foliage and flavor similar to anise.

Is fennel hard to grow?

Planting Fennel

Plants may be divided, but this isn't as easy as it is with other garden plants and often proves unsatisfactory. This is because fennel has a long tap root that doesn't like to be divided or moved. Planting fennel by seed is the much easier option.

How long does it take for fennel to mature?

Bulb fennel requires 80-115 frost-free days to reach harvest. Bulb fennel will keep in the refrigerator up to 1 week or in a cold moist place for 2 to 3 months.

Are there two types of fennel?

There are two types of fennel. One is treated as an herb (herb fennel – Foeniculum vulgare) and one that is treated like a bulb type vegetable (Florence fennel or Finocchio – Foeniculum vulgare var. ... The herb type grows 3-5 feet tall with fine textured foliage resembling dill.

How do I know when fennel is ready to harvest?

Fennel seeds are ready to be harvested in the fall when they've matured and turned brown. However, fennel sometimes doesn't flower and produce seeds until the second year after sowing. Florence fennel bulbs should be harvested when they're the size of a small fist or a tennis ball.

Why did my fennel not form a bulb?

So, the most likely reason for no bulb on fennel is that you have planted the wrong type. You can still use the lower stalks, the leaves and seeds, which will have a somewhat mellower but still delightful flavor than the bulb. Another reason for fennel with no bulb is planting too late.

What can Fennel be planted with?

Fennel. Fennel is a poor companion plant for most herbs and vegetables. While it can grow near dill, the two plants tend to cross-pollinate. As a result, it's usually best to grow fennel separately; keeping it in a container avoids any possible negative outcomes.

How often should Fennel be watered?

When planting, space fennel seedlings from 4 to 12 inches apart, depending on variety. (Check the plant tag for more information.) Be sure to keep soil consistently moist. Water regularly, giving plants at least an inch of water per week (more in hot weather).

What can you not plant near fennel?

Plant it with ornamentals and you'll be fine. Keep it away from from the veggie garden - especially cilantro/coriander, dill, tomatoes, kohlrabi, and beans. Well in mi opinion fennel, any, is not good companion plant to anything.

Why is fennel a bad companion plant?

Fennel – Not a companion for any garden food plant, fennel will actually inhibit growth in bush beans, kohlrabi, tomatoes, and others. Plant it, but keep it out of the veggie garden. Fennel attracts hoverflies, ladybird beetles, parasitic wasps, and tachinid flies, so it's a kind of beneficial insect magnet.

What is difference between dill and fennel?

The difference with dill is that the leaves and seeds are usually only eaten. Herb fennel leaves can be used in herbal tea to make a delicious deep liquorice flavour, dill has a taste profile which has notes of fennel, but is heavily flavored with a celery like, savory taste.

Can you eat the stalks of fennel?

All parts of the fennel plant—bulb, stalk, and the feathery fronds—are edible, and will add texture and flavor to salads, slaws, pastas, and more. Thinly sliced raw fennel bulb adds a sweet licorice flavor and crunchy texture to salads. ... To soften the flavor of the bulb, try braising, sautéing, roasting, or grilling it.

What is the difference between fennel and sweet fennel?

There are two main varieties of Fennel. One, developed mainly for production of Fennel seeds, is called Sweet Fennel (“Foeniculum vulgare var dulce”); the other, developed for eating in its own right, is called Florence Fennel (“Foeniculum vulgare var. ... Choose Fennel that is firm with fresh tops.

Do you cut back fennel?

Prune back fennel plants in mid autumn, before cold weather turns the plants to mush.

Is wild fennel poisonous?

If you've found something that you think is wild fennel and it smells like licorice, you're set. It's not poisonous.

How tall does fennel get?

The type grown as an herb—common fennel—features finely textured foliage that reaches 3 to 5 feet tall. Stems, leaves, and seeds from common fennel are harvested for use in culinary dishes.

Are anise and fennel the same thing?

While anise and fennel both have a licorice-like flavor, they come from different plants. You'll often find anise in seed form, either whole or ground, while you can buy fennel as a seed, leaves, or as the aforementioned finocchio, whose fronds, greens and bulb are all edible.

What part of fennel do you eat?

Technically speaking, all parts of the plant are edible, but most people will find the stalks too tough and fibrous to eat. The leaves can be chopped and used to flavor salads, dressings, marinades and sauces. They tend to have a slightly more citrusy flavor than the base. The base (or bulb) is delicious raw or cooked.

How do you harvest sweet fennel?

How to Harvest Fennel

When to harvest: Fennel leaves can be snipped for fresh use once plants are 6 inches tall or more and established. Snip leaves before flowering. ...
How to harvest: Use snips or scissors to harvest leaves. Cut only the top 2 or 3 inches to ensure regrow.

How do you harvest wild fennel?

Fennel harvesting tips

The seeds: Ideally harvested when they are still green. Clip the flower heads and rinse several times in hot water to remove any bugs or dirt, then lay them on a paper bag and air-dry for a few weeks. When they are completely dry, remove the seeds and store in an airtight jar.