Seed to Jar

 

Every recipe starts with a seed...

We are very lucky to have Pennard Plants local to us at Worminster Farm. Supplying us with the best quality new-season Romanesco Fennel seeds ready for sowing.

Our fennel starts it's life as a tiny, oblong, ridged seed. As you may know, fennel seeds themselves are a fairly common ingredient in their own right. Aromatic, sweet and fragrant with a slight aniseed flavour, fennel seeds can be used in a wide range of dishes and different cuisines from around the world. Often toasted to bring out their flavour, they are a popular spice paired with meet, fish, chutneys, breads and vegetables. 

Fennel seeds are also less commonly known for their surprising health benefits. Fennel is a good source of carbohydrates and dietary fibre. It also provides important vitamins and minerals and may help support a heart-healthy diet. Additionally, fennel seeds have been used to help treat anxiety symptoms. 

We also use fennel seeds in a number of our other CULTJAR recipes, such as our Beetroot & Red Onion ferment.

 

LATE MARCH 2025

 

 

Inside the greenhouse, our brilliant gardener Lynne starts these little seeds off on their journey to become magnificent vegetables. 

Fennel is a crop that enjoys a slightly cooler climate but not too cold! With the random heat waves and spring snowfall we have all become used to over the past few years, it's important for us to ensure our fennel has the most comfortable start to its life as possible.

To ensure our crops get off to a good start, Lynne starts by planting into seed trays - using the highest quality compost. these trays are placed on heat mats, ensuring a consistent temperature and protecting them from cold spring nights. constant care is taken at this stage, making sure the seeds don't dry out, are are watered regularly. 

The germination process takes place roughly 2-3 weeks. We wait for the little seeds to sprout to about 10cm before it's time to transplant (plant-out) into the garden. 

 

 

 

 

MAY 2025

 

 

Careful not to disturb the root, the little sprouted seedlings are placed gently in the prepared garden bed, one plant per 15cm. Surrounded by our own all-natural compost, made here on the farm.

Mounding up the soil around each plant as they grow, to help promote big and beautiful bulbs to form. 

Now our plants are outside and exposed to all elements and weather, it is even more important for us to keep our growing plants well-hydrated but not waterlogged! 

At this stage, if the fennel is left to become too dry (or experiences cold snaps) it is at risk of 'bolting'. This is the premature flowering of the fennel plant and can make the greens and bulb tough and bitter. Other than some rare occasions at the end of the season for seed harvesting, we don't want our plants to waste their energy on producing seeds instead of big beautiful bulbs. We therefore monitor the plants closely, keeping them consistently watered depending on the weather.  

 

 

 

 

JULY 2025

 

 

After a very hot Glastonbury Festival week, it's time for our bulbs to be harvested - ready for the kitchen! The whole process, from harvesting out of the ground to making the recipe and filling the jars, takes less than 48 hours! The fennel is washed and hand chopped, ready to be used in our delicious Fennel, Orange & Chilli pickle recipe.