Fennel has lovely fluffy plumes of soft green leaves and produces large flat umbels of yellow star like flowers, followed by edible seeds. It is a very attractive plant that looks fantastic in the garden borders as well as the veg plot and is great for beneficial insects too.
Fennel seeds and leaves can be used for culinary purposes. They have a sweet but delicate aniseed/licorice flavour that counteracts the oiliness of fish beautifully and adds extra flavour to salads as well. The seeds are lovely in bread & stews. (This variety is not to be confused with 'Florence Fennel' which is grown for it's white bulb).
It should not be grown near dill as they can cross-pollinate and give inferior plants or coriander as it alters fennel's flavour. It grows to between 60-120cm and has a spread of 45cm.
It is a perennial plant that should be cut down in spring to encourage the new shoots to emerge. It is better to replace fennel plants every 3-4 years as they begin to lose their 'oomph' with age.
Approx 460 seeds per pack.
