I have planted my Brussel sprouts with the recommended spacing. It looks like that space between could be used for other things. Are there any vegetables or other edibles that I could grow in the spacing between each Brussel sprout plant? I was thinking maybe fennel or carrots or even leeks or potatoes?
Carrots, radish and some herbs might work, but lettuce would be better as it is shallow rooted and fast growing. The spacing is for the roots of the Brussels sprouts plant so you don't want to plant anything that would interfere with the roots.
Hi! My fennel plants are on their 3rd year, the first year no bulbs, the second year they had huge bulbs. This year, it seems to be mostly stems with seed heads. Will these same plants produce bulbs again, or is the production of bulbs a one time thing for this plant, and I need to start from seed again every 2 years? I have searched, and understand I can harvest the feathery leaves and seed heads forever off of these plants, but can't seem to find out if they will produce bulbs again---as that is the part I am interested in using. Thanks in advance!
It is my understanding that harvesting the bulb essentially kills the plant, though in warmer areas, they will grow offshoots (which have smaller bulbs) from the severed base.
Also, in warmer climates, this plant is prone to fast bolting. It likely flowered before it had a chance to develop its bulb due to the heat.
You should try to keep the roots cool, with mulch and frequent watering. This should help keep it from bolting in the future which will allow it to develop the bulb.
I am interested in growing Florence fennel in North Carolina. I don't think it will survive the summer. When do you think I should attempt to sow it?
I would start them as soon as the soil warms in spring. You may also be able to grow it in the fall in your area as well. Here is more info: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/fennel-vegetables/growing-florence-fennel.htm
I live in northern Wisconsin (zone 3). I planted fennel from seed last summer. It grew beautifully, but there were no bulbs. Can you tell me why?
It could be the wrong type of fennel. For instance, Florence fennel is a bulbing type. Wild fennel is not. Did the seed packet specify it as a bulbing type? Also, did it flower? If so, it could be due to bolting. If allowed to bolt, the plant will put more energy into making more seeds rather than bulbs. The only other suggestion I can think of is earlier planting. These plants need cooler weather to produce bulbs, so perhaps you should try planting yours as early in the spring as possible, as soon as the ground can be worked, so that the bulb will develop in cooler temperatures.
All I can find is that vegetables should not be planted near fennel but nothing says how far apart.
Fennel is well known as an allelopathic plant. Here's an article that has more information on this quality: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/allelopathic-plants.htm
However, there's little research on this subject, especially on the distance that should be kept between the allelopaths and other plants. Since fennel roots are thought to produce chemicals which inhibit the growth of other plants, you'd want those the distance of their root spread, say 1 - 3', depending on the size of the plants. Some people have noticed that fennel seems to attract aphids, so if that's your worry, you might want to have a 10' separation. And if you're concerned about cross pollination with dill and coriander, the other side of the yard would be good.
Much of growing plants is experimentation. You could quarantine fennel away from the garden, but then plant a few different types of veggies near by to see what happens. Then let us all know.
When you harvest fennel bulbs, how does the plant grow back next year? I want to know how to harvest the bulb and still continue to grow my fennel. How does it work?
You leave at least one of the fennel bulbs to go to seed, harvest those, and plant them the next year. Or you can see what happens if you just leave them to self-seed you fennel patch. More information here: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/fennel-vegetables/growing-florence-fennel.htm
I have a Florence fennel plant and would like to take clippings and start the clippings as a plant.
I do not believe florence fennel can be propagated from clippings. My research indicated that it was propagated by seed, division or separation.
For more information on growing and propagating fennel, please visit the following link:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/fennel/growing-fennel.htm