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Top Questions About Fennel Plants

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Questions About Fennel Plants

  • Answered by
    Heather on
    May 22, 2011
    Certified Expert
    A.

    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.

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  • Answered by
    Heather on
    July 16, 2011
    Certified Expert
    A.

    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.

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  • Answered by
    Nikki on
    January 26, 2014
    Certified Expert
    A.

    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

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  • Answered by
    Nikki on
    April 30, 2014
    Certified Expert
    A.

    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.

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  • Answered by
    theficuswrangler on
    May 14, 2014
    A.

    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.

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  • Answered by
    theficuswrangler on
    September 6, 2014
    A.

    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

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  • Answered by
    shelley on
    April 29, 2015
    Certified Expert
    A.

    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

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