Florence Fennel should be ready to harvest this month. Check for size and colour.
Growing Calendar
This month: Oct
Log to journalReady to harvest now
- •Check size and ripeness
- •Harvest regularly
- •Store or use fresh
Watch Out For
Bolting is the defining risk: plants that experience a cold snap or long days early on will run to flower instead of forming a bulb. Never sow before late May
Slugs target young seedlings hard. Protect with copper tape or torchlit evening patrols until plants are established
Irregular watering causes bulbs to split or stay small. Keep the soil consistently moist, especially once bulbs begin to swell
Common Questions
About growing Florence Fennel in the UK
Why has my fennel bolted instead of forming a bulb?
Bolting is almost always caused by sowing too early. Cold snaps combined with the long days of spring trigger flowering instead of bulb formation. Wait until late May or June to sow, even though this feels later than most other crops.
What's the difference between Florence fennel and the herb fennel?
Florence fennel is grown for its swollen, aniseed-flavoured bulb at the base of the plant and is treated as an annual vegetable. Herb fennel is a perennial grown for its feathery foliage and seeds, and doesn't form a bulb at all.
Does fennel grow well alongside other vegetables?
Not particularly. Fennel is known to inhibit the growth of many neighbouring plants, including beans and tomatoes. It's usually best grown in its own dedicated patch, away from the main vegetable beds.
How do I keep fennel bulbs pale and tender?
Earth up loose soil around the base of the bulb as it swells, similar to blanching celery. This keeps it pale, mild and tender rather than green, tough and overly aniseed-flavoured.
Written from real growing experience, organic methods only. Our story · Our approach
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