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How to Grow Fennel

A favourite with foodies, florence fennel is prized for more than its attractive feathery foliage. Grown for its bulb-like thickened stems, this distinctive, aniseed tasting vegetable adds a fresh, crisp element to many cuisines. Used for flavouring soups and stews, fennel is also delicious tossed in salads, pasta and is extremely good with fish. Other varieties available include sweet fennel and bronze fennel .

Full sun

Regular watering

Fertile, free draining, moist soil

Suitable for all climatic zones

15 – 20 weeks; successive sowing is suggested for a prolonged harvest

Sow seed in autumn in warm zones, spring in cooler regions

How to grow fennel in a garden

Step 1

Choose a sunny spot in your garden where the soil drains freely. Enrich with compost & Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

Step 2

Sow seed directly into soil – 50 cm apart in rows 50 cm apart. Cover lightly with Yates Seed Raising Mix and water well.

Step 3

Water regularly. Once seedlings emerge, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Vegie and Herb Liquid Plant Food.

Step 4

As plants grow and the bulb begins to appear to be swelling, hill the soil around the base of the plant to exclude light.

Step 5

Once bulbs are an edible size, generally at least the size of a flat tennis ball, carefully dig out of the soil or cut off at the base. If harvesting from a row, take care to limit disturbance to roots if there are other plants still growing. Leaves can also be cut to use as an herb.

How to grow fennel in a pot

Not recommended because a 300 mm pot would only accommodate one plant.

For challenged growers -

Step 1

Choose a pot at least 300 mm wide and deep and position in a sunny spot. Fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.

Step 2

Sow seed direct, planting 2 - 3 seeds in the middle of the pot. Cover lightly with Yates Seed Raising Mix and water well. Alternatively, plant one seedling in the middle of the pot.

Step 3

Water regularly. Once seedlings emerge, thin to the strongest plant and feed weekly with Yates Thrive Vegie and Herb Liquid Plant Food.

Step 4

As plant grows and the bulb begins to appear to be swelling, mound up soil around the base of the plant to stimulate a larger harvest.

Step 5

Once bulb is an edible size, generally at least the size of a flat tennis ball, carefully dig out of the soil or cut off at the base. Leaves can also be snipped to use as an herb.