Do you grow fennel? Is it a perennial? How do you prepare it?
I had it once and it didn't over winter so I never grew it again , I'd like to get some ideas on how to cook it so I can see if it's worth while growing again. Especially if it's a perennial
fennel
It should overwinter for you; wonder why it didn't...
I use the bulb for cooking, so I have to plant a lot of it. At the grocery store the bulb is typically called "anise." It's traditionally cut in matchstick sticks and sauteed, but there are many ways to use it. If you go to epicurious.com and search for "fennel" (using "browse," you can also choose what course you're looking for, etc.) for ideas. It's lovely with a good sausage, wild rice, etc., and is very nice in soups as well.
thanks zeppy, I love the smell of it. wonder if I can still find some, usually theycarry it at walmart, but I'm not sure. think i'll try it again
It's simply to direct sow; just scatter some seeds where you want it!
well, that's easy enough, I should be able to get seeds ok, can one use the seed located in the grocery store?
I have had great luck with bronze fennel...not so much growing it from seed, however. The problem is that I never have much to cook with, the black swallowtail caterpillars eat it to the ground! What am I talking about;> I don't cook bunches...I actually planted it for the butterflies!
Even though it gets eaten, it pops back up every spring looking even better than the year before. That is, until....
Bev
Grocery store... you mean in the herb section? I wouldn't use those. Fennel seed is very cheap. I just looked on ebay and a packet of 80 seeds goes for under a buck. It is very easy to germinate for me, and I've wintersowed it successfully.
We grow parsley, fennel, and dill for our black swallowtail caterpillars (parsleyworms), and for eating and cooking.
thanks zeppy, I know bronze fennel grows wonderfully from seed, i've grown that, I have babies popping up all over in the spring time from fallen seed
Well, you can stick with that, then! Bronze fennel tastes the same to me. :)
I didn't know that cool. I've not seenor heard of anybody cooking with bronze fennel
I have bronze fennel, just because it gives such a nice color and great aroma to my garden. I haven`t tried to cook anything with it yet.
Check out its reviews on PlantFiles. :)