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False fennel

gjautosgjautos Posts: 395
in Plants
I tried to grow false fennel from seed this year. It was really disappointing. It ended up straggly and floppy and never grew much above 8 inches tall. I followed the instructions on the seed packet, from mr fothergills, germination was good, almost 100%. They were planted in beds and everything around them grew ok. 
I want to try again next year, any hints? 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,097
    What's false fennel? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ElmozElmoz Posts: 30
    I took it to mean herb fennel

  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 395
    Fairygirl said:
    What's false fennel? 
    Ridolfia segetum, its a Mediterranean native (weed i guess!) 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,097
    Gaijin said:
    I took it to mean herb fennel

    There's the problem. It's why the correct names are important for appropriate advice, because it isn't what the OP has. Herb fennel is Foeniculum vulgare, and the OP has something different  :)

    It may simply have been down to your cultivation of the seeds, when you planted out, and what aftercare they had @gjautos. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 395
    @Fairygirl. Possibly, i followed the instructions perfectly. They were in full sun in a south facing garden, Mediterranean plant, i can't really see how i went wrong. The seeds all germinated and looked healthy. Perhaps it was a water issue.😞
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,097
    I expect they've struggled with not enough water. So many areas had excessive heat, and even with a sun loving plant, it's vital  they have enough, especially with other planting around them.

    It's different with seedlings which have self seeded into a spot, as they're completely acclimatised, as opposed to something we sow, germinate, and then cultivate in a pot, before planting out.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 395
    Thanks @Fairygirl . I'll try again next year. Fingers crossed!
  • tui34tui34 Posts: 2,859
    @gjautos Don't worry.  I sowed successively three lots of Florence Fennel 1. in March - no bulb but lots of leaves  2.  in June - small tough bulbs and hopefully third time lucky in August for early winter use.  Not all have come up this time but I have hilled what is left up.  So far so good.  
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,097
    Weather/climactic conditions always have a bearing on what we do with seeds of any kind @gjautos . Good that you still have some seed for next year though  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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