Garden calendar for the kitchen garden - vegetables and herbs. See what to plant right now and for next month.

Growing Florence Fennel, also Finocchio

(foeniculum vulgare dulce)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
		P	P	P

(Best months for planting Florence Fennel in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
Space plants: Thin to 15 cm
Harvest in 14-20 weeks.
Compatible with: Lettuce, Chicory, Cucumber, peas, sage
Avoid growing with: Beans, tomatoes

A fennel seedling
Ready to use

This is a perennial grown as an annual as the stems become more fibrous with age. Both seeds and leaves have a mild aniseed flavour. With its feathery leaves it makes a good background plant in a border. Grows to approx 1.5m (5ft) Can be repeat sown throughout the year or left to self seed.

Fennel prefers well-drained fertile soil.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Florence Fennel

The swollen base of the stem is used.

Slice and steam/stir-fry the bulb, or use raw/grated in salads. Can be cooked and served with sauces or butter.

Your comments and tips

05 Dec 11, Karen McGregor (Australia - temperate climate): My fennel seems to be making more frondy vegetation and the bulbs don't seem to be growing.What am I doing wrong? My soil is good and I feed my plants with worm tea.
Reply or Post a new comment
03 Apr 11, Michael (Australia - temperate climate): Does anyone know where Fennel seedlings can be purchased around inner city Melbourne?
Reply or Post a new comment
12 Mar 11, Simon Grove (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I had a good crop of Florence fennel (swollen bases) in its first spring in my Tas garden, but then left the residual roots and stems to grow over the summer, which they have done flourishingly (I removed the flowerheads before they seed). Is it feasible to get another crop in subsequent springs if I cut these plants right back now - or will these older plants not redevelop those swollen bases next time around?
Reply or Post a new comment
14 Mar 11, Ray South (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I doubt that the you'll get a second crop of swollen bases but you can eat the new spring shoots in the same way.
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Mar 11, Katie (Australia - temperate climate): I read that fennel is a good companion plant for citrus to help prevent gaul wasp infestation. Can I plant florence fennel or is the "vulgare" variety the best for this?
Reply or Post a new comment
28 Jan 11, Ianessa (Australia - temperate climate): Ingrid you can get Florence Fennel from Diggers, they have mail order.
Reply or Post a new comment
27 Jan 11, ingrid (Australia - temperate climate): Where can I buy Florence Fennel seed? I live in monbulk Vic
Reply or Post a new comment
09 Feb 11, Geoff Hudson (Australia - temperate climate): The Italian Gardener has organic (Montebianco) and conventional (bianco perfezione) fennel seeds.
Reply or Post a new comment
29 Jan 11, Tracey (Australia - temperate climate): Ingrid, I don't know if any of the big seed companies like Yates sell them. I order my fennel seeds from the Italian Gardener. I have also bought seeds from Digger Club in the past (but the quality of the bulbs wasn't as good as the italian ones). Most of the mail-order companies carry them - Cornucopia, Eden Seeds and New Gippsland Seeds are a few. A quick google will take you to their websites. Hope this helps
Reply or Post a new comment
13 Jul 10, Jack (Australia - temperate climate): The fennel I planted has several bulbs growing together (that's how it came. Should I separate them, if so, how?
Reply or Post a new comment

Post a question, comment or tip about Florence Fennel

Your name:

Where are you?

Email address (if you would like us to email you when your comment is listed):

Your question, comment or tip:

All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting may not appear immediately

See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

Site design and development by Hutchinson Software