Bronze Fennel

[Robinia]

I've just bought a small bronze fennel plant from the garden centre & it's one herb that I've never grown before.  Although I can find info on eventual height (4-6ft) nowhere actually says how long it will take to reach that. Does anyone know how fast it will grow & is it likely to be hardy in Derbyshire? It's for a very warm & sunny part of the garden.

[woofgang]

It will get big in its first summer, but i think that established plants grow bigger than newly planted. Its a lovely plant. I live in hants and it dies back every winter, I don't cut it down because it looks quite sculptural. I have mine in a pot, so not sure about the spread but it certainly seeds well.

[Robinia]

Thanks woofgang - sounds like it will make the kind of impact I'm looking for. Don't think I'll plant it out today though, it'll shrivel up, it's freezing here!

[oxeyedaisy]

the birds have eaten mine ..i thought it wasnt growing very fast then i saw them pecking away..its now gone alltogether..i do feed the birds so they cant be that hungry!!! 

[Robinia]

Oh no, I spend a fortune feeding the birds as it is oxeyedaisy....I didn't buy a cotton lavender yesterday as they always pecked at my last one! 

[oxeyedaisy]

my liqourice and marshmallow herb plants have also dissapeared..i am particuarly cross about the marshmallow as i grow everything from seed and it was due to flower this year..i dont know if the birds or the slugs or snails are the culprits in this case..its amazing how they ate cotton lavender as thats quite pungent..i also know a lot of my seeds have been eaten and i had some strawberrys in a tub..and guess what ??a borage plant appeared and no strawberrys..the squirrels are also guilty as they bury things..i love the birds but i buy plenty of seed and even bake bread for them so i wish they would leave my plants alone..

[Gilli]

I've got some of this newly planted as I only recently dug out a new flowerbed in my new garden. Hence it is still quite small.

However, I've had it before and found it grew large in no time at all. Like Woofgang, I never bothered to cut it back as it naturally shrivels only to re-emerge next Spring. ou should eventually get sulphur-yellow flower heads and you might also find lots of little baby plants dotted about as it's a prolific self-seeder.

[Foxglove]

I have some and it's a lovely plant. Get it in the ground now and it will grow as big as 5 ft by  the middle of July. It very kindly seeds down and next spring you will be looking at lots and lots of lovely new plants. It's one of the best architectural plants in the garden. Good choice.

[Robinia]

Thanks again.  Looks like all my friends & neighbours will have some this time next year too!