{"product_id":"finocchio-italian-fennel","title":"Finocchio (Italian Fennel)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinocchio (Italian Fennel) from the Macchione family of Pittsburgh, PA, originally from Falerna, Calabria, Italy\u003c\/span\u003e. The wildly abundant seeds are harvested green and then dried for adding to s\u003cspan\u003eoppressata (salami)\u003c\/span\u003e, soup, stew, spaghetti sauce, meatloaf - \"you can use it anywhere you wish - it's good for anything\" \u003cspan\u003eaccording to fellow \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003epaesana\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (villager\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Fenice Mercurio\u003c\/span\u003e. The seeds are also great for making a stomach calming tea. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor eating, harvest the seeds when they are plump and green but before they turn dark and dry on the plant. Clip seed clusters about an inch below the umbel, and allow them to finish drying indoors. When fully dry, rub the clusters between your hand to remove the seeds. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThis is a bushy, leafy perennial that can grow 7 feet tall when flowering. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThis seed is part of the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.theitaliangardenproject.com\/\"\u003eItalian Garden Project\u003c\/a\u003e’s Italian American Collection. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eRead about our shared work \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.theitaliangardenproject.com\/italian-american-seed-collection\"\u003eHERE\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eShop for more varieties in this special collection \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/collections\/the-italian-garden-projects-italian-american-seed-collection\"\u003eHERE\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eY\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eou can see photos and read about the garden of Giovanni and Maria Macchione, which was documented for the Smithsonian Institute’s Archives of American Gardens \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.theitaliangardenproject.com\/archives-of-american-gardens\"\u003eHERE\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis collection represents seeds from the most cherished vegetables of Italian immigrants, those flavors that just couldn't be left behind. Only the best of the best would have been deemed worthy of the passage from the Old World to the New. These are seeds which have been passed down through families for generations, saved from the most vigorous specimens hand-selected each season. When they arrived in America, they were lovingly propagated in backyard gardens and traded as valuable commodities within Italian communities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeirloom seeds such as these which have been nurtured over hundreds of years and traveled across continents are at risk of being lost and their histories forgotten. In order to safeguard these treasures, The Italian Garden Project has been seeking out these heirlooms from across the US and serving as their caretaker. And now our partnership with Truelove Seeds and their growers ensures that these unique varieties will continue to flourish and provide the authentic flavors of the past well into the future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90-120 days\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 175-200 \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 70\u003cspan\u003e%\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (total viability: 72%) on 02\/19\/2026 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e(\u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"What is the difference between germination rate and total viability?\" href=\"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/pages\/faq\/#seedviability\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eread more about viability\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can sow fennel indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost and then transplant into the garden, though it prefers to be direct sown. When soils have warmed to at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit, direct sow seeds 4-5 inches apart in rows spaced 12-18\" apart. Thin to 8-12\" apart. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIsolate different fennel varieties from each other by 1\/2 a mile to prevent unwanted hybridization. For seed harvest, clip seed clusters when they have started darkening towards dry (after the plump green phase). They can continue drying indoors if you are in a wet climate. (like us). \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46106988314862,"sku":"HERB-090","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/files\/fennel2.jpg?v=1738177381","url":"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/products\/finocchio-italian-fennel","provider":"Truelove Seeds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}