Harvesting Fennel.

[wildherbalian85]

Hi, i was wondering, please, if anybody could tell me when is it best to harvest Fennel??

[Paul mabbott]

Fennel, like dill, doesn't dry that well. Best to chop it anytime to use directly in cooking. You can also cut it anytime (before flowering starts) and freeze it in sealed bags. Otherwise you should chop it on a sunny day after several dry days, lay it out in a cool dry place until suitably dried then crumble and pot it up. Good luck.

I note that I've told you how to dry the foliage but not the seeds - which were you wanting to harvest? You can have one but not both (at least from one plant!).

Originally Posted by wildherbalian85

Hi, i was wondering, please, if anybody could tell me when is it best to harvest Fennel??

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Fennel, like dill, doesn't dry that well. Best to chop it anytime to use directly in cooking. You can also cut it anytime (before flowering starts) and freeze it in sealed bags. Otherwise you should chop it on a sunny day after several dry days, lay it out in a cool dry place until suitably dried then crumble and pot it up. Good luck.

I note that I've told you how to dry the foliage but not the seeds - which were you wanting to harvest? You can have one but not both (at least from one plant!).

Thanks for the advice Paul.

i was thinking of harvesting the bulb part.

[Paul mabbott]

Are we talking then about the tall perennial (biennial?) Foeniculum vulgare or the short, annual Florence fennel which is grown for its 'bulb' (stem base, really, I think?)?

Originally Posted by wildherbalian85

i was thinking of harvesting the bulb part.

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Are we talking then about the tall perennial (biennial?) Foeniculum vulgare or the short, annual Florence fennel which is grown for its 'bulb' (stem base, really, I think?)?

Wild stuff pale green foilage seldom reaches hights greater then a meter. I believe it is the Florence stuff but im unsure. Often visable are the bulb's.