Why is My Fennel not Producing Bulbs?
Okay, a little information about fennel. You know that you can eat the stems, leaves, seeds, and bulbs of fennel, but what you may not know is that there are two types of fennel. Foeniculum vulgare is harvested like an herb – the stems, leaves, and seeds are utilized. This type of fennel grows 3-5 feet (1-2 m.) in height, with feathery foliage much like dill. The other type of fennel is Florence fennel, also known as finocchio. This variety is shorter with darker green leaves. It is grown for the bulbous flat, thick petioles at the base of the plant that is called the “bulb.” Both types have flavors reminiscent of licorice or anise. So, the most likely reason for no bulbs on your fennel is that you have planted the wrong type. You can still use the lower stalks, leaves, and seeds, which will have a somewhat mellower (but still delightful) flavor than the bulb. Another reason for fennel with no bulbs is planting too late. If you plant as summer days are getting longer as temps are rising, the plant will probably bolt. If you have flowers and no bulb and temperatures are warm, this could be the culprit.
How to Get Fennel to Form Bulbs
Getting Florence fennel to produce bulbs requires two things: cooler summer days and consistent moisture. Florence fennel often has a better chance of producing big fat, tender, juicy bulbs if sowing takes place after mid-summer. This is no doubt because of wetter weather as the bulbs mature, and shortening days won’t encourage bolting. For early maturing varieties, try Montebiano, Mantovano, or Parma Sel Prado. If you wish to wait and plant mid-summer for fall harvest, try Mantovano, Bianco Perfezione Sel Fano, or Victorio. Varieties that do well planted in both spring and late summer are Romanesco, generic Florence, Zefa Fino, or Trieste, a bolt-resistant hybrid. Zefa Fino is also more stress tolerant than other varieties. If you are in doubt about your timing or your climate, plant Zefa Fino. Seeds can be sown indoors or out. If you start them inside, sow seeds 2-5 weeks prior to the last average frost date in the spring. If sowing outside, select a sunny site with rich organic soil. Sow Florence fennel from mid-June to July to allow the crop to develop during the shorter, earlier days of summer and early fall when it’s cooler. Depending upon your climate, you may also sow in mid- to late summer for an autumn crop. Keep the seeds moist. Once the seedlings emerge, it’s important to keep them uniformly moist but not waterlogged. If the soil dries out, the plant will likely bolt and affect the bulb. As the bulb begins to grow, it tends to push up out of the soil. For a paler and tenderer bulb, cover the bulb with soil, just as you would a leek. Harvest Florence fennel when the bulbs are around the size of a tennis ball. Dig the bulb out and cut off the roots and top. The bulbs can then be stored in a cool area for several weeks.
