FLORENCE FENNEL
(AS AN OVERWINTER CROP)

FENNEL

Sow: June to September

Plant: July to October

Harvest: January to May and November to December

January: Harvest as needed. Keep covered with fleece if temperatures are below 0˚C/32˚F.

February: Harvest as needed.

March: Buy seeds. Harvest as needed.

April: Harvest before plants bolt. (Seed can be sown now for a summer crop.)

May: Lift any remaining plants.

June: Sow seed thinly in deep pots or trays. Keep at 15–20˚C/59–68˚F until germinated.

July: A good time to sow seed. Don’t let seedlings overheat and don’t overwater.

August: Sow seed. Plant seedlings out when they are 10cm/4in tall. Border soil should be enriched with compost. Keep roots intact. Water well and protect against slugs. If there is no space available, pot on into deeper containers until ready to plant out.

September: Sow seed. Plant out 20cm/8in apart in rows 30cm/12in apart.

October: Get all plants into the soil by the end of the month, however small.

November: Plants will grow steadily and bulbs will swell. Harvest when full and firm.

December: Harvest as needed. Cover with fleece if nights are cold.

FENNEL TROUBLES

Slugs: July to November

Grey mould: January to March and November to December

Damping off: June to August