Name: Bulb Fennel 'Selma' - Foeniculum vulgare
Brand: Benjis Seeds
Price: 3.0 EUR
Availability: OutOfStock

Bulb fennel ‘Selma’ – a fast-growing, bolt-resistant Swiss classic with white bulbs.

This open-pollinated Florence fennel variety quickly develops white, juicy and crisp bulbs with a mildly spicy, slightly sweet aniseed flavour. Its low tendency to form side shoots results in well-developed, usable bulbs, while its strong resistance to bolting makes cultivation from spring through to autumn easier. Harvested young, the bulbs are particularly tender and are equally suitable for fresh salads and aromatic vegetable dishes. Its rapid growth and good yield potential make ‘Selma’ a versatile variety for regular harvesting in the home garden.

Origin & History

‘Selma’ has been known since 1995 and originates from Swiss-German vegetable breeding. It was bred by A. Willens at Samen Mauser in Arni, Switzerland, and Ch. Keinhanns at the seed-breeding station in Quedlinburg. At the Swiss breeding company, the abbreviation ‘Selma’ stood for ‘Selektion Mauser’ and was used to identify varieties from its own breeding programme.

‘Selma’ belongs to the Zefa Fino type. With the development of the variety ‘Zefa Fino’ in Wädenswil in the late 1970s, summer cultivation of Florence fennel north of the Alps became increasingly important. This type of variety enabled a longer growing season than the traditional autumn varieties. ‘Selma’ later also became established in organic seed production and was already available as organic seed by 2012.

Appearance & Characteristics

The plants grow upright and develop finely divided, rather light green foliage above the densely layered bulbs. At the vegetable harvest stage, they usually reach around 50 cm in height. If left for seed production, the plants can reach around 100–150 cm with their yellow flower umbels. The variety is frost-sensitive and should be protected when frost is expected.

Bulb details:

Size: Medium to large; for culinary use, bulbs are often harvested at around 8–12 cm in diameter
Shape: Flattened-round to rounded, with swollen, tightly overlapping leaf bases
Color: White to ivory, becoming pale green towards the leaf stalks
Texture: Juicy and crisp; tender and soft when cooked
Flavour: Mildly spicy, slightly sweet and pleasantly aniseed-like

Usage & Cultivation Highlights

Thinly sliced raw bulbs are excellent in salads, for example with orange, apple or a lemon dressing. They are equally suitable for steaming, braising, grilling and baking, which brings out their mild sweetness more strongly. The fleshy leaf bases work well in roasted vegetables, casseroles and savoury vegetable side dishes. Fresh fennel foliage can be used to season soups, sauces and salads. For storage, prepared pieces of bulb can be blanched and frozen.

An even water supply and sufficient spacing support the development of tender bulbs. Direct sowing avoids root disturbance; when sowing under cover, individually raised young plants with intact root balls establish more easily after planting out. ‘Selma’ also shows a lower susceptibility to browning at the leaf margins. Mature bulbs should be harvested promptly, as they may occasionally split during very vigorous growth. In mild regions with wet winters, cultivation can be particularly well suited to the cooler half of the year.

Compared with other Florence fennel varieties, ‘Selma’ is distinguished by its compact bulbs, early maturity, good resistance to bolting and low tendency to form side shoots. The variety is suitable for different growing periods and produces white, aromatic bulbs for fresh cooking.

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Origin & Cultivation at a Glance

First mention:

1995

Origin:

Switzerland

Breeder:

Ch. Keinhanns, A. Willens

Propagation site:

Alentejo - Portugal

Suitable for:

Open field, Raised bed

Care requirements:

Medium – requires some attention.

Overwintering:

Possible outdoors in mild winters – protect from severe frost.

Special features:

High-yielding, Fast-growing, Low-maintenance

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Cultivation guide for

Knollenfenchel 'Selma'

Growing difficulty:

Medium

• In subtropical climates, sow in a sunny position from August to October or from February to March – sowing under cover from July or January is also possible, then plant out after 4–6 weeks once there is no risk of frost.
• In temperate regions, sow in a sunny position from May to July – sowing under cover from April is also possible, then plant out after 4–6 weeks once there is no risk of frost.
• Sow 1 cm deep in well-drained, humus-rich loamy soil. Plant spacing: 30 × 40 cm.

Cultivation tips:

• For a staggered harvest, it’s recommended to sow seeds in intervals of 4 weeks.
• Thin out early so the plants have enough space.
• Keep evenly moist – drought stress can encourage premature flowering.
• Do not plant young plants raised under cover any deeper than before, the base of the bulb should remain above the soil surface.
• Once the bulbs begin to form, earth up lightly, keeping the centre of the plant exposed.
• Harvest the bulbs before they begin to elongate and a flower stalk develops.

Storage instructions:

Store seeds in a cool, dry, dark, and airtight environment to maximize shelf life and germination.

Detailed information on seed storage

Plant Profile

Plant details

Botanical name:

Foeniculum vulgare Mill. 'Selma'

Botanical family:

Apiaceae - carrot family

Plant type:

Leafy vegetables

Growth habit:

Upright growth, Herbaceous, Forms a rosette

Plant width:

50–100 cm

Plant height:

50–60 cm

Root type:

Moderately to deep rooted, Taprooted

Hardy to:

-3 °C possible for short periods

Cultivation period:

3-4 months

Life cycle:

Biennial

Propagation method:

Generative propagation by seed

Propagation:

• This variety is pollinated by insects and belongs to the species Foeniculum vulgare.
• For seed production, a minimum isolation distance of 250–500 m from other flowering populations of the same species is recommended, as cross-pollination can occur.
• For seed saving, collect seeds from at least 60 healthy, true-to-type plants.
• Overwinter plants selected for seed production and allow them to flower in the second year.
• The seeds are ready to harvest once they turn brown and can be easily removed from the umbels.
• Allow harvested umbels to finish drying in a well-ventilated place, remove the seeds, clean them and dry them thoroughly.

Sowing & Planting

Germination type:

Light-independent germinator

Sowing depth:

0,5-1 cm

Germination temperature:

18-22 °C

Germination time:

10-21 days

Pot culture:

Not recommended - better grown in garden beds or raised beds.

Row spacing for baby leaf:

Not suitable for baby-leaf cultivation.

Plant spacing:

20–30 cm

Row spacing:

30-40 cm

Pricking out / thinning out:

Thin out seedlings within 2 weeks after the formation of the first true leaf pairs.

Planting time:

Transplanted seedlings can be planted outdoors about 3 weeks after pricking out.

Soil

Soil type:

Well-drained, humus-rich loam soil

Soil pH:

6.5-7.5 - slightly acidic to alkaline

Nutrient requirements:

Medium feeder

Soil moisture:

Evenly moist, Sensitive to waterlogging

Soil preparation:

Loosen the soil deeply before planting, Mulch layer for moisture regulation

Companion planting, Crop rotation & Harvest

Companion plants:

Lettuce, Endive, Pea, Cucumber

Incompatible plants:

Crop rotation guidelines:

• Don't plant after other umbellifers – a minimum interval of 3 years is recommended.

Harvest time:

Subtropical: autumn to spring – Temperate: summer to autumn

Sowing to harvest:

3-4 months

Harvested parts:

Tubers, Leaves, Stems

Suitable for consumption:

Yes - edible raw.

Intended use:

Raw consumption, Salad, Steaming, Cooking, Roasting, Grilling, Baking, Culinary herb, Freezing

Care & Cultivation practices

Water requirements:

Moderate to high

Plant care techniques:

Thin out after germination when sown directly, Water regularly - even during dry periods, Maintain weed-free, Hill up

Plant protection:

Slug protection recommended, Mulching recommended, Well-ventilated location and good drainage recommended.

Cultivation notes:

Susceptible to slugs and snails in early development. Sensitive to waterlogging – use well-drained soil. Premature flowering can occur due to cold, heat or drought stress.