Romanesco

Romanesco Fennel Seeds

[85 days] Originally hailing from the Mediterranean Basin region, Romanesco fennel is a large, Florence heirloom variety with plump, oval bulbs, thick, tightly wrapped stems, and plenty of feathery leaves. Many gardeners swear that this is the most attractive heirloom Florence fennel around, as well as one of the most succulent. The bulbs are large and can get up to 1kg, but don’t grow it for the bulbs alone! Use the leaves in salads, the stems in stir fries, and the seeds as a seasoning.

This variety prefers to be sown later in the spring. (Sow it too early and the bulbs will be smaller).

Fennel is not friendly to other plants, so grow it off in a corner on its own. If you let it go to seed you’ll have fennel for many years to come.

Common Questions

What is a good companion vegetable for Romanesco fennel? Fennel is best to be planted on it's own. It is not suitable as a companion vegetable for any other plant.

How do you prepare Romanesco fennel seeds for germination? Romanesco fennel is grown from seed by directly sowing into your garden. Sow your seeds as early in the season as the ground can be manipulated and cover with 1/4 inches of soil.

How long does fennel take to grow from seed? The germination process of Romanesco fennel usually takes between 7 and 10 days. You can help speed the germination process up quicker by soaking your fennel seeds overnight in warm water before sowing. Fennel seeds can be sown outdoors 2-5 weeks before the last frost date in spring.