Florence Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum
Florence fennel produces a swollen, crisp, anise-flavoured bulb at the base of its feathery stems. Raw in salads or braised in butter, it brings a Mediterranean elegance to the kitchen. Notoriously prone to bolting — choose modern bolt-resistant varieties and sow from midsummer.
SowingDirect sow
Sunlight☀️ Full sun
Water💧💧 Moderate
Days to harvest60–90
Soil pH6–7
Spacing20cm × 30cm
Planting Calendar
🌏 Adjusted for southern hemisphere seasons.
Sow indoorsSow outdoorsTransplantHarvest
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Bolting
Florence fennel's main challenge is its tendency to bolt (run to seed) before the bulb develops. The key is to sow from June to August — never in spring — and to choose modern bolt-resistant varieties like 'Zefa Fino' or 'Romanesco'.Sowing
Sow direct in shallow rows (fennel dislikes transplanting). Thin to 20–25cm apart. Direct sowing avoids root disturbance that can trigger bolting.Earthing Up
When bulbs reach the size of a golf ball, earth up the base with soil to blanch them — this whitens the bulb and improves the texture and flavour.Soil: Light, well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Heavy or waterlogged soil causes bolting.