Where can I get the 'bulb' type Fennel?

[Police State]

Does anyone know where I can get the type of Fennel that produces the big bulbs? At the moment I have the Florence type that just produces the flower in our garden.

And any tips on how to grow it would be appreciated.

[Pete Franklin]

The bulb type is florence fennel (Foeniculum dulce).

you can find seeds cheeply online: http://www.vegetableseeds.net/SearchResults.asp?Se...

If you have been using this type of seed but still not producing bulbs then your fennel plants are probably bolting. I believe they can be hard to grow especially in colder climates. I have not tried it myself so that is the limit of my advice i'm afraid.

[racing green]

Nearly all the main seed companies (T&M, Suttons, Fothergills, D T Brown etc) offer Bulb fennel as seed. If you are using this seed and only getting flowers it is because as the previous writer said - they are going to seed or bolting. Fennel is not a beginners crop and needs care. It can either be sown direct into soil in from May to July and then thinned out to 8-10" spacings or sown in plug trays in warmth and planted out. Either way it will need watering in thoroughly and crucially the seedlings should never be allowed to get to the wilting stage as this is the main trigger for bolting. The same goes for lots of crops such as Lettuce, Spinach, Onion sets etc. A good sunny spot and regular waterings (but not drowning) will give good results. This year was a difficult one with such a prolonged dry spell. Give it a go next year and perhaps put them near any Runner beans you may grow as they also like a good dose of water during the dry to get better flowering.