Although indigenous to the Mediterranean, fennel can be grown easily from seeds in the UK, and is a brilliant addition to your garden.

Although a hardy perennial, fennel is often sown every year to maintain its crop. Its highly aromatic nature and aniseed flavour makes it a wonderful ingredient for both sweet and savoury dishes.

Its young tender leaves can be used for garnishes, in a salad, in soups and with fish sauce, as well as in sweet, sticky sauces and delicious puddings. The edible nature of the whole plant makes it very versatile.

How to grow...

• A particularly robust herb, fennel will grow well in any garden soil, providing it is placed in a sunny spot.