Patchmates
Sign in
Back

Vegetable

Florence fennel

Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum · also Bulb fennel, Finocchio

Grown for its swollen, aniseed-flavoured leaf base. In Adelaide it does best sown in late summer and autumn, maturing in the cool months; spring sowings often bolt in the heat. Wild fennel is a weed in SA, so never let plants go to seed.

When to plant where you live

Checking your area…

Add florence fennel to my garden

Planting times for other areas

Varieties (3)

  • FlorenceThe standard bulb fennel sold by most Australian seed companies
  • LeoneLarge rounded bulbs
  • Zefa FinoSlow to bolt; good for less ideal sowing times

Neighbours

Keep away from

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    30 cm apart, rows 50 cm, seed 10 mm deep. Full sun.

  2. Water

    Water regularly; never let it dry out.

  3. Feed

    Compost before sowing, then liquid feed.

  4. Pick, from about 11 weeks

    Cut bulbs at tennis-ball size.

Good to know

  • Sow where it is to grow; it dislikes transplanting
  • Hill soil around the bulb once it is golf-ball size to blanch it and soften the flavour
  • Remove any flower stems straight away; fennel self-seeds and wild fennel is a weed in SA
  • Snip the feathery leaves as a herb while the bulb grows

Common problems

  • Boltingcaused by heat, long days or dry spells; sow from late summer to autumn and keep watered
  • Snails and slugs on stemshand pick at night, use beer traps
  • Aphidshose off, encourage ladybirds

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about florence fennelAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing florence fennelQuestions, tips and harvests from the community

Wildlife

Good for: bees, butterflies.

Where this information comes from

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 29 Oct 2026. Version 1.