Key Features
- Produces crisp, aromatic fennel with a characteristic anise-like flavor.
- Forms a compact, swollen stem base commonly grown as a vegetable.
- Ideal for vegetable gardens, raised beds, containers, and kitchen gardens.
- Performs best in full sun with fertile, loose, well-drained soil.
- Feathery foliage adds attractive texture while the plant provides a useful edible harvest.
Growing Benefits
- Provides a flavorful homegrown vegetable for fresh cooking.
- Suitable for raised beds and productive kitchen gardens.
- Feathery foliage adds visual interest to edible garden spaces.
- Can be grown from seed directly in the garden.
- Offers both edible foliage and a bulb-like stem base for culinary use.
Seed Specifications
- Common Name: Florence Fennel, Finocchio
- Botanical Name: Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum
- Plant Type: Biennial vegetable, commonly grown as an annual
- Colors: Green foliage with pale green to white swollen stem base
- Height: Approximately one to two feet
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Fertile, loose, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil
- Water: Regular and consistent; avoid prolonged dryness
- Germination Time: Approximately seven to fourteen days under favorable conditions
- Sowing Depth: Approximately one-quarter inch
- Spacing: Approximately eight to twelve inches
- Growing Zones: Commonly grown as an annual across many USDA Zones
- Flowering/Maturity: Harvested primarily for the swollen stem base before flowering; maturity commonly occurs within several months
- Uses: Vegetable gardens, raised beds, containers, kitchen gardens, fresh cooking, roasting, grilling, and salads
Growing Tips
- Direct sow seeds where they will grow to minimize root disturbance.
- Keep soil consistently moist to encourage tender, well-developed stem bases.
- Plant during cool weather because excessive heat can encourage premature bolting.
- Hill or mound soil gently around the developing base for a more rounded, pale appearance.
Seed Storage
Store unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark place. Keep them sealed in their original packet or an airtight container away from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight.
Unique Facts About Seeds
- Florence fennel is a cultivated form of Foeniculum vulgare selected for its enlarged edible leaf bases.
- Fennel belongs to the Apiaceae family, along with carrots, dill, parsley, and celery.
- Florence fennel has a characteristic sweet, anise-like aroma and flavor.
- The feathery foliage resembles that of common fennel but the plant is grown primarily as a vegetable.