The Italian Gardener

Sometimes called Florence fennel bianco perfezione produces a beautifully white, sweet and crunchy bulb. This is the variety that Maggie Beer chose to grow for her Garden to Table article in the August 2009 ABC Gardening Australia magazine. She notes that fennel does not like to have its roots disturbed and is thus best grown from seed in the garden bed where it is to mature. Fennel is hungry and likes a drink so keep it moist and well nourished. Harvest when the bulbs are fully swollen before they show signs of flowering.