Fennel Planting Guide
Florence fennel is grown for its swollen bulb-like stem base, which has a mild anise flavor. It is crisp raw in salads and sweet when roasted or braised.
Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum · Vegetable · Apiaceae family · 60–90 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Fennel Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Fennel?
Fennel Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Fennel planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4a | Mar 4 | May 20 | May 27 | Jul 29 – Sep 9 |
| Zone 4b | Feb 27 | May 15 | May 22 | Jul 24 – Sep 4 |
| Zone 5a | Feb 28 | May 2 | May 9 | Jul 11 – Aug 22 |
| Zone 5b | Feb 21 | Apr 25 | May 2 | Jul 4 – Aug 15 |
| Zone 6a | Feb 13 | Apr 17 | Apr 24 | Jun 26 – Aug 7 |
| Zone 6b | Feb 6 | Apr 10 | Apr 17 | Jun 19 – Jul 31 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 4 | Apr 1 | Apr 8 | Jun 10 – Jul 22 |
| Zone 7b | Jan 28 | Mar 25 | Apr 1 | Jun 3 – Jul 15 |
| Zone 8a | Jan 18 | Mar 15 | Mar 22 | May 24 – Jul 5 |
| Zone 8b | Jan 7 | Mar 4 | Mar 11 | May 13 – Jun 24 |
| Zone 9a | Dec 30 | Feb 10 | Feb 17 | Apr 21 – Jun 2 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 14 | Jan 25 | Feb 1 | Apr 5 – May 17 |
| Zone 10a | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 12 – Apr 23 |
| Zone 10b | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 12 – Apr 23 |
How to Plant Fennel
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
Moderate — regular watering
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.
🧪 Soil pH
5.5 – 7
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 4a – 10b
📅 Days to Maturity
60–90 days
Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.
👪 Plant Family
Apiaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Apiaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Fennel
Fennel matures in just 60–90 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Fennel
✅ Good Companions
❌ Keep Away From
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Fennel
Direct sow in late summer for fall harvest to reduce bolting. Hill soil around bulbs as they enlarge. Harvest when bulbs are tennis-ball sized before they elongate.
Saving Fennel Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Level Up Your Garden
Fennel by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Fennel?
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum) takes 60 to 90 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Fennel grow in?
Fennel can be grown in USDA zones 4a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Fennel need?
Growing Fennel requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 5.5 to 7.