Best time to plant fennel in Australia
Foeniculum vulgare
Also called Florence fennel, finocchio, bulb fennel
With feathery leaves and yellow flowers, fennel is a perennial herb in the carrot family, valued in cooking for its strong flavour, which is close to anise. One selection, Florence fennel or finocchio, develops a swollen bulb-like base that is eaten as a vegetable.
On a shared plot: suits a plot
Finishes in a season and stays within its space, so it suits most plots.
When to sow
| Zone | Months | How well checked |
|---|---|---|
| Temperate | Aug to Apr | Matches local guides |
| Tropical | Apr to Jul | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Arid | Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov | Broadly matches local guides, with some differences |
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
Growing details
- How to start
- Sow directly or raise seedlings
- Sowing depth
- 8mm
- Plant spacing
- 60cm
- Row spacing
- 60cm
- Height
- 60cm
- Germination
- 7-14 days at 10-30°C
- Time to harvest
- 80-90 days
- Frost
- Hardy, takes a light frost
- Sun
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- biennial, usually grown as an annual
These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.