Difficulty
Easy

Season & Zone

Season: Warm season
Exposure: Full sun
Zone: Hardy to Zone 5

Timing

Direct sow any time after last frost to early summer. Fennel can be started indoors, but like its close relative dill, it responds to transplant shock by bolting. Peat, coir, or newspaper pots may help prevent this. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 15-21°C (60-70°F).

Starting

Sow seeds 1cm (½”) deep, a few seeds in each spot you want a plant to grow. Thin or space to 30cm (12″) apart.

Growing

Grow fennel in a sunny position in well-drained loamy soil. If your soil is on the clay side, add some sharp sand to the bed. In the first year, fennel will grow to about 60cm (24″) tall, but in mild areas plants can reach 2m (6′) tall.

Harvest

Gather the fronds to use in salads and dressings. Use the seeds in baking. These plants will self-sow readily and become a weed if the seed heads are not removed in the fall.

Seed Info