Tips on Fennel Storage

Rob has asked for tips on Fennel Storage:

Have you any tips on storage ?
Do you dig as required, will they tolerate frost if left in the ground ?
Can they be stored like onions ?
I would welcome your advice !

We asked our ‘Fennel Expert’ John Oldham for his advice & he has kindly
replied:

Florence Fennel is definitely best dug and eaten fresh. Ours has been
sown end-June in modules, planted out one week ago. It will just about
tolerate a slight frost. Have never tried freezing it but don’t think it
is a good idea, especially as the plants mature over a period and can
therefore be harvested in succession.

Thanks John for that advice. You can’t beat the taste of vegetables straight from the ground.

* trim & cut into slices
* blanch for 3 minutes
* place in freezer in plastic bags

To cook from frozen:

* boil for 8 minutes
* add to stews whilst still frozen.

The best tips on Fennel storage come from John Oldham, who says there is
no need to store as plants mature over a period and can therefore be
harvested in succession.