July: Fennel

I finally had success with my fennel last summer. It is no good sowing it before midsummer, and it likes quite a rich soil, and even then I have to admit that each head was quite small, but delicious, so sow it now!

Simply score a line in your soil about 1cm/½" deep, keeping the rows about 45cm/18" apart, give the soil a good watering if it is dry, then scatter the seed quite thinly along it. Cover the seed over, and leave to grow. Start thinning the seedlings once they are clearly visible (throw the thinnings into a salad), and keep thinning (and eating the seedlings) gradually until you have plants about 30cm/12" apart. Allow these to bulk up, but use them, whatever size they are, before the first frosts. You do need to keep watering in a dry spell, or they are liable to bolt to seed, and to give them that white, blanched look, earth up the soil around the bulbs for the last 2 or 3 weeks, although this is not essential!

Tip: You must have florence type fennel to eat as bulbs, seeds such as 'Romanesco' or 'Sirio' - the herb type fennel will not work! Pak choi and other Chinese leaves, along with mache/corn salad/lamb's lettuce, are also best sown now after midsummer.