Growing Florence Fennel, also Finocchio

foeniculum vulgare dulce : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S                  
      T                
        P              

(Best months for growing Florence Fennel in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • 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 (can grow beside): Lettuce, Chicory, Cucumber, peas, sage
  • Avoid growing close to: Beans, tomatoes

Your comments and tips

13 Apr 17, Ken (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It could be any variety of fennel and chances are it is imported. I suggest you keep growing it and if you like the end result save some seed for next seasons planting.
02 Jun 17, Carol Grey (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have just dug out an enormous fennel in North Tasmania , Have little ones growing.
25 Jun 17, Jay (USA - Zone 5a climate)
Can I plant fennels at 8500 feet high Colorado
25 Oct 17, Poloko Mphatane (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Good-day I am very much interested in growing plant's at the back of the yard I want to know how to grow fennel in free state and how to maintain them and protect them Thanks
05 Nov 17, joel (Australia - temperate climate)
where in Australia can u grow fennel
30 Nov 17, Anita Groenewald (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Where can I find fennel farmers in South Africa? i want to buy fresh fennel and rhubarb in fairly large quantities.
12 Dec 17, Ilka Howell (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
What happens if you plant fennel with beans? I didn't know they shouldn't be grown together and have planted them in a large garden bed together. They are not right next to each other, have lettuce and radishes separating so approx 1m apart. Will they grow ok?
13 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
From Houzz Fennel is allelopathic to most garden plants, inhibiting growth, causing to bolt, or actually killing many plants. Like black walnut or elder, it produces some chemical or other which does bad things to its neighbours. Although it causes coriander to bolt, the coriander does help to prevent fennel from becoming too much of a weed. It depends which one you want to sacrifice, I guess! It will cross-pollinate with dill, resulting in a horrible-tasting plant. I think fennel will be OK if grown in a pot, but you'll need to be vigilant to stop it from going to seed (a pity if you want those seeds!) - those seeds can travel far and wide, making it a very invasive plant indeed.
17 Jan 18, Ilka (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Very informative, thanks Mike! Sounds like the fennel will have to go :)
05 Apr 20, Joan (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Have lots of this growing wild on my place. The only recipe we tried with the bulb was a stir fry but we got put off because the flavor was too strong. Are there recipes to take the strong taste off it!? Thanks.
Showing 41 - 50 of 60 comments

Hello, I live in Edmonton. At our community garden, we are trying to grow Florence Fennel. The plant is healthy, with fronds a metre high, but it is not forming a bulb. The root is ten centimetres long. If we cover it to get over the early threat of frost, which is often a risk in early September, we may get warm and sunny days trough to October. Is there anything we can do encourage the plant to form a bulb? Thank you for taking our question. Morris

- Morris Lemire

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