Florence Fennel
(60-90 days)
350 seeds $3.00
Florence fennel is a delicious, healthy vegetable that is not used nearly enough here in the United States. It forms an above-ground bulb with a crunchy texture and a licorice-like flavor.
Fennel can be eaten raw in salads, if sliced thinly, but it's a little tough to chew. We prefer it cooked in soups and stir-fries. We use the leaves to flavor fish. The seeds are used in sausage, breads, and Chinese cuisine. In the garden, the umbel flowers attract beneficial insects.
Harvest Florence fennel before the stems flower, or the bulbs will be tough. Latin name: Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum. Also known as Finnochio. Native to Italy.
height 30"
Sowing Florence Fennel Seeds
Sow fennel seeds outdoors in late spring or midsummer for a fall harvest. Barely cover the seeds with soil. Thin to 4-6" apart. Full sun.
Also see Bronze Fennel 'Smokey'
