"A.Malhotra" wrote in message
...


Paul England wrote:

"David W.E. Roberts" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a fennel plant that has seeded in a brick path, and has been
there
for several years.

Each year I mean to dig it up in the winter, then forget.

During the summer it is in totally the wrong place but I think I might
use
the leaves, or wait for the seeds (which I usually forget to gather).

So - is the root likely to be still edible?
If so, when can it be harvested?
Now, or at the end of the season when the foliage is dying back?

Cheers
Dave R

According to Dr.D.G.Hessayon's The Vegetable & Herb Expert - the
feathery
leaves can be gathered in summer and used with fish, salads and soups.
For seeds, tie paper bag over flower heads and hang upside-down in
bunches.
Used with oily fish. HTH

Paul

Presumably this refers to fennel herb. By the sound of it, the original
poster thinks he has florence fennel ie with an edible bulb. Does florence
fennel produce leaves and seeds of the same quality? It seems more likely
though, if its self-seeded, that this IS fennel herb rather than florence
fennel.
Anita

Ah - the plot thickens.
So there are two types:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/askthechef...s/fennel.shtml
Then again are there?
http://www.purplesage.org.uk/profiles/fennel.htm
Very confusing because apparently with the bulb or florence fennel you can
also use the leaves and stems, and with herb fennel you can also eat the
bulb.

Whatever I have is certainly a perennial because it has been coming upfor
several years and never quite disappears even in the winter.

I get seedlings around the garden - I transplanted them this year from
various beds to one position.
I know I shouldn't have but most survived :-)

So probably I have herb fennel and I may be able to eat the bulbs.

I think.

Whatever, the elderly parent is probably quite tough by now.

Cheers
Dave R