Your comments and tips

12 May 12, Heather Houston (Australia - temperate climate)

We have just purchased a home with an old herb garden, I am sure that fennel is growing but it doesnt have the bulb - it has been left overgrown for years. What should I do pull it all out or persevere?

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01 Jul 12, Melody (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi Heather, I think I've heard that Bulb Fennel can have male or female plants for example some will fillout to a bulb and others will stay sort of flat. If thats not the case then its possible you actually have a Dill plant! I'd persever and see what you get and dry some of the fronds for kitchen use.

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24 Feb 12, Corinne Cowper (Australia - temperate climate)

When your crop has finished what do you need to do to the soil to make it ready for your next crop? I understand about crop rotation but not sure when I should be adding fertiliser and compost.

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17 Apr 13, Andrew S (Australia - temperate climate)

Late reply..but here goes.. all I do is a mix of compost or worm castings..maybe with a dash of seaweed solution or worm juice. Even a crop of peas just to help break up the soil a bit with a nitrogen fix.

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05 Dec 11, Karen McGregor (Australia - temperate climate)

My fennel seems to be making more frondy vegetation and the bulbs don't seem to be growing.What am I doing wrong? My soil is good and I feed my plants with worm tea.

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11 Feb 12, peter (Australia - temperate climate)

I think you should be sowing seed late summer for picking in June / July

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03 Apr 11, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)

Does anyone know where Fennel seedlings can be purchased around inner city Melbourne?

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12 Mar 11, Simon Grove (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I had a good crop of Florence fennel (swollen bases) in its first spring in my Tas garden, but then left the residual roots and stems to grow over the summer, which they have done flourishingly (I removed the flowerheads before they seed). Is it feasible to get another crop in subsequent springs if I cut these plants right back now - or will these older plants not redevelop those swollen bases next time around?

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14 Mar 11, Ray South (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I doubt that the you'll get a second crop of swollen bases but you can eat the new spring shoots in the same way.

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07 Mar 11, Katie (Australia - temperate climate)

I read that fennel is a good companion plant for citrus to help prevent gaul wasp infestation. Can I plant florence fennel or is the "vulgare" variety the best for this?

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