Romanesco Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Romanesco Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare): this well-known Mediterranean species is a must in the winter gardens of the Central South Italy, it is indeed because after a moon cycle at temperatures below 5-7º, fennel goes from its vegetative state to flowering, regardless of the size of the plant.

The edible part of the plant is the “Grumolo”, that is the set of white fleshy leafs that create the small head.

It needs constant irrigation and mild temperatures. It can be sown from beginning of Summer to the end, always considering the latitude comparing the average temperatures with the crop cycle.

Fennel can also be bleached, but more easily than other vegetables. In fact, it is enough to tuck the stem in during the last month before harvest so that it does not receive any light, at harvest time, it will display a beautiful, intense, white colour.