fennel question

[annastasia76]

I planted some fennel last year that didn't really grow, but didn't die out either, so since it wasn't dead I left it through the winter, now that it's spring it's huge, the largest fennel plant that I have ever seen, that being said my question is;

Is it still good to eat or has it gotten hard and tough over the winter??

I wonder about that because we left our green pepper plants over the winter and recently tried a pepper that grew during the winter and it didn't taste good, will it be the same with the fennel? I would just try it but I don't buy fennel in the store so I don't know what it's supposed to taste like or what the texture is supposed to be like.

[rainbowgardener]

Depends on what you want it for. If you wanted fennel root, that probably is hard and tough and not edible any more. But the leaves are also used in seasoning and they will be fine. And you can let it go to seed and then you have fennel seed, which is also used as a spice.

[annastasia76]

what about the bulb that's above ground

[rainbowgardener]

I said root, but what I was thinking about was the bulb. I'm thinking that will get real hard and tough...

[annastasia76]

ok, thank you, I had a feeling that it would be too tough.