Fennel - Key Growing Information

With its crisp, white, flavorful layers this large rounded fennel bulb is ready to harvest and enjoy.

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Foeniculum vulgare

CULTURE:

Bulb fennel, or finocchio, prefers fertile, well-drained soils high in organic matter with a pH of 6.5-7.5. Adequate irrigation is needed to produce high-yielding and flavorful crops. Whenever possible, fennel should be planted to mature in shortening days with cooler temperatures, as high heat and long days encourage bolting.

DAYS TO MATURITY:

From date of direct seeding.

TRANSPLANTING:

Use 1-2" cell-type containers, sowing 3 seeds/cell, 1/4" deep. Thin to 1 plant/cell. Grow for 4-6 weeks or until plants can be removed without disturbing roots. Transplant outdoors in midspring to late summer 6" apart. Use care as disturbing the roots may cause bolting. Clip off any seed stalks that may form.

DIRECT SEEDING:

Sow midspring through early summer 10 seeds/ft., 1/4" deep, rows 18" apart. Thin to 6" apart.

AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:

1M/100', 5M/500', 1 oz./700'.

HARVEST:

When base thickens, use sharp pruners to cut bulb free just above taproot. Cut off leaf petioles 1-2" above bulb to prepare for sale or storage.

STORAGE:

Best at 32°F (0°C) with 95% relative humidity.

TRANSPLANTS (AVG.):

4,000 plants/oz.

SEEDS/OZ. (AVG.):

6,500.

PACKET:

200 seeds, sows 20'.

Fennel