{"title":"Fennel","description":"Fennel variety seeds.","products":[{"product_id":"semences-fenouil-biologiques","title":"Florence Fennel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFoeniculum vulgare var. azoricum.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Mediterranean plant of mythological antiquity. Ancient Greece loved it so much that the very name of the city of Marathon — site of the famous battle of 490 BCE — comes from the Greek \u003cem\u003emarathos\u003c\/em\u003e, \"fennel,\" because the plain where the Greeks and Persians clashed was covered in it. Mythology also tells that Prometheus stole fire from the gods by hiding it in a hollow fennel stalk before bringing it to humans — the plant has therefore symbolized, from its mythical origins, strength, courage and the transmission of knowledge. Roman gladiators ate it to toughen up before combat, and physicians of every tradition — from Dioscorides' \u003cem\u003eDe Materia Medica\u003c\/em\u003e to Indian Ayurveda — credited it with digestive and galactogenic virtues that modern science largely validates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Florentine variety, \u003cem\u003efinocchio\u003c\/em\u003e in Italian, is cultivated for its meaty heart — a \"false bulb\" formed by the widened, overlapping bases of the petioles, crunchy, pearly white, juicy, with a fresh anise flavour that recalls licorice without the sugar. Magnificent raw in a salad, finely sliced on a mandoline with blood orange, black olives and olive oil (the great Sicilian winter classic), oven-roasted in caramelized quarters, braised whole in chicken broth with Parmesan, folded into Marseille bouillabaisse, or simply slipped in slices into a sandwich for the crunch and freshness. The frond of fine plumed leaves crowning the bulb is also edible and precious — chop it like dill onto fish, into a green sauce, or as a soothing tea after a too-rich meal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrower's tip:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fennel doesn't like heat and hates being moved. In Québec, the strategy that works best is direct-sowing in late June for a fall harvest — summer heat inevitably bolts spring sowings before the bulb forms properly. If you absolutely want to start indoors, use biodegradable pots (3-4 weeks maximum, no more, to avoid root shock) and transplant as soon as possible. Loose, deep, rich soil kept constantly moist — water stress during bulb formation turns it fibrous and bitter. Harvest the bulb before hard frosts, cutting it off at ground level — the root left in place sometimes regrows in fine shoots usable as young leaves for salads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen-pollinated. Biennial grown as an annual. Insect-pollinated; crosses with other nearby fennels and with its wild cousin — isolate for seed saving.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight: 30-50 cm for the bulb, up to 1.5 m if allowed to flower.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaturity: 80-100 days after sowing for the full bulb.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExposure: full sun.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLoose, deep, rich, constantly moist soil. Thin to 25-30 cm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDirect-sow in late June in Québec for fall harvest (the most reliable strategy), or a very short indoor start (3-4 weeks) in biodegradable pots if a summer harvest is wanted.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Joual Vert","offers":[{"title":"1k Pre-purchase","offer_id":41714935267500,"sku":"GC-O-FENNEL-200","price":0.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5k Pre-purchase","offer_id":39344966959276,"sku":"GC-O-FENNEL-1K","price":3.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25k Pre-purchase","offer_id":41714935300268,"sku":"GC-O-FENNEL-5K","price":12.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"125k Pre-purchase","offer_id":42161005822124,"sku":"GC-O-FENNEL-25K","price":39.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0532\/1388\/8684\/products\/fennel.jpg?v=1698701339"}],"url":"https:\/\/joualvert.ca\/en\/collections\/fennel.oembed","provider":"Joual Vert","version":"1.0","type":"link"}