How to Grow Fennel

Intermediate

Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum

A cool-season vegetable grown for its crisp, anise-flavoured bulb. Florence fennel forms a swollen stem base harvested before it bolts. Do not plant near tomatoes, peppers, or most herbs — fennel is allelopathic and inhibits growth of most vegetables.

Last updated: June 2026

Days to Maturity
65–90 days
typical
Per Square Foot
1
Plant Spacing
30 cm / 12"
Sun
6+ hours
Water
1.0" / 25 mm
Fertilization
moderate feeder

Growing Notes

Direct sow in early spring or late summer. Harvest bulbs when golf-ball to tennis-ball size, before they send up flower stalks. In hot climates, grow as a fall crop to avoid bolting.

Popular Varieties

3 fennel cultivars in our catalog.

Dragon
75–90 days Hybrid
Height
30–30" (76–76 cm)
USDA Zones
3–10
Finale
Open-Pollinated
Preludio
Hybrid

Square Foot Spacing

1 per sq ft

12" apart (entire square)

View full spacing chart →

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