Fennel

Fennel Starter Plants in 4-Inch or 6-Inch Pots Available in Jupiter, FL

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is an aromatic, elegant cool-season herb and vegetable that brings both culinary and pollinator-friendly benefits to the South Florida garden. With feathery, fern-like foliage and bulbous, sweet-flavored bases, fennel is a favorite for chefs, herbalists, and butterflies alike. Whether you're growing for its crisp anise-flavored bulb, its licorice-scented fronds, or its pollinator-attracting flowers, fennel is a standout in any winter garden bed.

Sold in 4-inch and 6-inch pots, these starter plants are strong and garden-ready for immediate transplanting into raised beds or containers.

Care & Growing Info (Optimized for South Florida):

Sunlight: Full sun—at least 6 hours a day. Fennel grows best with steady light in cool weather.

Watering: Moderate. Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. Avoid overhead watering to reduce the risk of rot or fungal disease on bulbs.

Soil: Loose, well-draining soil with rich organic matter. Add compost and aged manure at planting. Fennel prefers neutral to slightly alkaline pH.

Fertilizer: Feed with a balanced organic fertilizer every 3–4 weeks. For best bulb development, supplement with potassium-rich compost or kelp meal.

Growth Habit: Upright, clumping plant. Grows 2–4 feet tall depending on the variety and conditions. Bulb forms at the base above the soil line.

Temperature: USDA Zones 9–11. Grows best from fall through spring in South Florida, preferring daytime temps between 50–75°F.

Maintenance: Low. Remove flower stalks early if growing for bulbs to encourage larger base growth. Leave flowering plants for pollinators if growing for seeds or fronds.

Harvest & Seasonality:

Planting Time: Best planted October through February in South Florida.

Harvest Time: Bulbs are ready about 60–90 days after transplanting. Fronds can be harvested any time after plants are established.

How to Harvest: Cut the bulb at the soil line when it reaches tennis-ball size. Use fronds fresh, and save seeds once flowers dry.

Seasonal Notes: Performs best in cool, dry weather. May bolt early in warm spring weather—succession planting recommended for extended harvest.

Medicinal & Nutritional Benefits:

Fennel is rich in Vitamin C, fiber, and potent antioxidants like anethole, which supports digestion, reduces bloating, and promotes respiratory health. It has traditional use in herbal medicine as a carminative and mild expectorant. The seeds are often used in teas for soothing the digestive tract.

Ideal For:

• Culinary gardeners who love gourmet flavors

• Companion planting with leafy greens and calendula

• Herb and pollinator gardens

• Raised beds and ornamental edible landscapes

• Cool-season growing in South Florida

Plant Classification:

Scientific Name: Foeniculum vulgare
Common Name: Fennel
Plant Type: Herbaceous vegetable and culinary herb
Family: Apiaceae (carrot family—includes dill, parsley, and cilantro)
Class: Dicot – Broadleaf plant with net-like leaf veins and deep taproot
Growth Form: Upright, clumping cool-season annual (may reseed)
Evergreen/Deciduous: Neither—treated as a seasonal herb
Perennial or Annual: Perennial in some climates, but grown as a cool-season annual in South Florida

Container Sizes: 4-inch or 6-inch pots