The Bronze Fennel is a dramatic landscape plant as well as a culinary herb. The brownish bronze color which deepens as the season wears on is truly unique in our experience. The flavor and use are similar to those of regular fennel. Mustard yellow umbel-shaped flowers appear late in the season, followed by flavorful seeds. Plant toward the edges or borders of vegetable gardens. Bronze Fennel is said to not be a good companion when planted too closely with other vegetables, especially beans, tomatoes, dill, and carrots.

50 seeds

PLANTING

Foeniculum vulgare

Tender Perennial, zones 6,7-10

Germination:7-14 days

Germination Temperature:Optimum soil temperatures 65-70F

Seed Planting Depth:Sow deep

Starting Indoors:Start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Provide 65-70F soil temperatures. Using peat, cow, or paper pots can help with the stress of transplanting, they grow delicate roots and successful transplanting may be challenging. Transplant after the last frost, 6-8 apart.

Sowing Outdoors:Mid-spring when the soil temperature reaches 60-65F.Sow seeds close, 1-2″ apart, thin to 6-8 apart.

Growth Habit:Upright, branching

Height and Width:36-48 x 18-24

Spacing:6-8 apart

Light Needs:Full sun

Soil Needs:Bronze Fennel needs average to fertile, well-drained soil

Flowering:Mid to late summer, 65-70 days

Harvest:Start when the plants are 8-12, picking leaves as needed. Collect seeds when umbels turn from green to brown and before they shatter to the ground. Place in a paper bag until they are fully ripened and dry.

Uses:Culinary,medicinal, flower gardens beds and borders, filler for flower arrangements, flowers attract butterflies, bees and beneficial insects

Care:Water wellduring prolonged dry periods in summer.Removing flower stalks helps keep the plant producing leaves for a longer period.Bronze Fennel reseeds easily inmild climates,-removing flower heads helps decrease next season volunteers.Providing support can help when the plants get tall. Can be grown in containers.