Organic Foeniculum dulce Finale

The 'Finale' organic Sweet Fennel is an early variety that does not easily go to seed. It produces beautiful pearly white, round and compact bulbs that can be consumed both raw and cooked. The sowing period extends from March to June for a harvest from July to October.

Fennel belongs, like Carrot and Dill, to the Apiaceae family (formerly Umbelliferae) and forms a beautiful plant with fine and light foliage, of which both the branches, the "bulb" and the seeds are consumed. It thrives in mild climates and is cultivated in sunny, fairly rich soil.

Although easy to grow, Fennel is one of those highly reactive plants that need a minimum of warmth to grow but do not tolerate episodes of drought that quickly make it go to seed. The art of the gardener lies in combining the right variety with the right sowing period.

The bulbs (which are not really bulbs, this fleshy part being formed by the imbrication of the petioles) of Fennel have a beautiful pearly white colour and a slightly aniseed flavour. It is a vegetable with a delicate flavour that can be consumed both raw and cooked. Its branches are particularly used to flavour fish dishes. Finally, if by misfortune, some plants were to go to seed, console yourself, fennel seeds make a very good condiment that facilitates digestion.

Harvest: Fennel is harvested approximately three months after sowing and is done as needed.

Storage: It is a fairly frost-sensitive plant that cannot withstand freezing temperatures. It cannot remain in the ground during winter and must be stored in a cellar. Freshly harvested, Fennel can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator or several months in the freezer after being blanched beforehand.

Gardener's tip: To limit watering, we recommend, starting from the end of May, mulching the soil with thin successive layers of clippings, preferably mixed with dead leaves. This protection, which keeps the soil moist, also reduces the need for weeding.