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Choose your climateBased on winter hardiness only.

Vegetable · Apiaceae family

Florence fennel

Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum

Full sun 1 ft 7⅝ in–3 ft 3⅜ in × 3⅞ in–1 ft 7⅝ in Harvest August–November Moderate care

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun
Size1 ft 7⅝ in–3 ft 3⅜ in
spacing 11¾ in
PlantingMay–June
HarvestAugust–November
Care levelModerate care

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moisthumus-richloamysandy

Watering

Florence fennel — Watering
keep the soil evenly moistless when it rains

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (69 in).

19¾ in3 ft 3⅜ in4 ft 11 in1 ft 7⅝ in–3 ft 3⅜ inspread 3⅞ in–1 ft 7⅝ in
1 ft 7⅝ in–3 ft 3⅜ in× spread 3⅞ in–1 ft 7⅝ in

Plant 11¾ in apart.

How to plant: in rows, 11¾ in in the row, 11¾ in between rows

The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Typical for a temperate climate (four seasons). The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Sowing: JanuarySowing: FebruarySowing: MarchSowing: AprilSowing: MaySowing: JuneSowing: JulySowing: AugustSowing: SeptemberSowing: OctoberSowing: NovemberSowing: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberHarvest: JanuaryHarvest: FebruaryHarvest: MarchHarvest: AprilHarvest: MayHarvest: JuneHarvest: JulyHarvest: AugustHarvest: SeptemberHarvest: OctoberHarvest: NovemberHarvest: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
SowingPlantingFeedingHarvest
Now, in October: time to harvest.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Sowing

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

direct sowing: June–July; sow indoors: May

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

transplant outdoors: May–June

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June–July

Harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

August–November

Feeding

Nutrition.

Florence fennel — Feeding
Horn meal

up to 0.33 oz/sq ft · in 1 dose · June–July

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

What you will see

Irregular holes in soft leaves and young shoots and slime trails; they feed at night.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Plant sturdy potted plants, not delicate young seedlings.
    • Water in the morning, not the evening (evening watering helps them move around).
    • Encourage their natural enemies: birds, hedgehogs, toads, ground beetles.
  2. By hand evening, after rainPick them off by hand on damp evenings and take them far away. Traps: hollowed-out citrus halves placed cut side down, or sunken containers of beer; check in the morning.
  3. Biological when the soil is warm and moistSlug-specific nematodes (from a biological control supplier) are watered into the soil.
  4. Chemical — only when nothing else helps according to the product labelLast resort only: a product authorized in your country against slugs and snails. Try non-chemical methods first.
Slugs and snailspest

What you will see

Irregular holes in soft leaves and young shoots and slime trails; they feed at night.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Plant sturdy potted plants, not delicate young seedlings.
    • Water in the morning, not the evening (evening watering helps them move around).
    • Encourage their natural enemies: birds, hedgehogs, toads, ground beetles.
  2. By hand evening, after rainPick them off by hand on damp evenings and take them far away. Traps: hollowed-out citrus halves placed cut side down, or sunken containers of beer; check in the morning.
  3. Biological when the soil is warm and moistSlug-specific nematodes (from a biological control supplier) are watered into the soil.
  4. Chemical — only when nothing else helps according to the product labelLast resort only: a product authorized in your country against slugs and snails. Try non-chemical methods first.
More about this problem
Sources (2)

Bed neighbors

Good and bad neighbors.

Each neighbor shows how we know it.

✓Good neighbors

✕Bad neighbors

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When do I sow Florence fennel?

In May–July (direct sowing, sow indoors).

When is Florence fennel harvested?

In August–November.

Does Florence fennel tolerate shade?

No, it needs full sun.

How much space does Florence fennel need?

At maturity 3⅞ in–1 ft 7⅝ in wide and 1 ft 7⅝ in–3 ft 3⅜ in tall; recommended spacing 11¾ in.

Slugs and snails — what can you do?

Plant sturdy potted plants, not delicate young seedlings. Pick them off by hand on damp evenings and take them far away. Traps: hollowed-out citrus halves placed cut side down, or sunken containers of beer; check in the morning.

Sources (11) Checked 27 October 2026

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