Foeniculum dulce 'Finale'

The 'Finale  Sweet Fennel is an early variety resistant to running to seed. It produces beautiful pearly white bulbs that are round and compact, and 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 prefers mild climates and is cultivated in sunny, fairly rich soil.

Although easy to grow, Fennel is one of those very reactive plants that need a minimum of warmth to grow but do not tolerate episodes of drought well, which quickly causes it to go to seed. The gardener's art is then to combine the right variety with the 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 flavor. 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 unfortunately some plants go to seed, console yourself, fennel seeds are a very good condiment that aids digestion.

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

Storage: It is a fairly cold-sensitive plant that cannot tolerate frost. 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 mulching the soil with thin successive layers of grass clippings, preferably mixed with dead leaves, starting from late May. This protection, which keeps the soil moist, also reduces weed growth.

Organic or "AB" seeds come from plants grown without phytosanitary products (insecticides, herbicides). These seeds also do not undergo any treatment after harvest. They bear the AB label and are certified by Ecocert, an independent organization.