Heirloom Mantovano combines flavour with adaptivity! This variety will give you options - spring sowing for an early harvest (strong bolt resistance) and main season cropping with a good hold in prime condition (just quietly getting fatter). And yet more options – harvest early for sweet and tender mini bulbs or, after about 75 days, start harvesting the large bulbs (and Mantovano is one of the larger bulbing fennels) which will be white, crispy, aromatic and a good weight (300g or there about).
SOW & GROW: bolt resistant Mantovano can be sown from mid-March to May to harvest summer or from June to August for cropping September to November. Sowing 1cm deep in modules makes it easier to plant out without disturbing roots when they reach the 4/5 leaf stage. Keep watered (they like moist rich soil) and mulch if possible. Earthing up is traditional, not essential, when the bulb starts to swell. Allow 75 days or more for larger bulbs, or crop early for mini bulbs.
ENJOY: bulbs can be eaten raw, sliced thin, in salads or with dips. They are good grilled, sautéed, or steamed whole or sliced. Delicious boiled & served with cheese sauce or butter. Or roast them with a drizzle of olive oil. You can even substitute these fennel bulbs for onions in many recipes… the texture when thinly sliced is similar but will give you a different flavour twist – try in a tomato sauce and see how you like the combination.
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