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When to Plant Fennel in Lawrence County, PA

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.

Lawrence County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 167 days.

At an elevation of 441 feet, Lawrence County receives approximately 43.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Fennel during the growing season.

Lawrence County, PA (Zone 6a) Moderate season
167 days
Last Spring Frost May 4
167 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Lawrence County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Fennel Planting Timeline — Lawrence County, PA

Fennel Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 9 Mar 9 – Mar 23
Transplant Outdoors May 18 May 18 – Jun 1
Direct Sow May 11 May 11 – Jun 1
Harvest July 20 Jul 20 – Aug 31

Plant 1" deep · 15" apart · Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

167 days in Lawrence County

Growing Tips for Lawrence County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Beans

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Fennel in Lawrence County, PA?

Lawrence County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 4. Plan your Fennel planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lawrence County, PA?

Lawrence County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 4 and first fall frost is October 18.

🌱

Your Lawrence County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Lawrence County (Zone 6a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Lawrence County, PA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.