Fennel (Florence/bulbing) in Zone 5a & 5b

Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum

When to plant fennel (florence/bulbing) in zone 5b

Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Fennel (Florence/bulbing) tolerates either.

Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 ft.

Florence fennel, the bulbing kind grown for its crisp, anise-flavored base, is a slow crop and a famously antisocial one. Almost every source on companion planting agrees on the same point: fennel doesn't play well with much of anything else in the garden.

How fennel (florence/bulbing) fits zone 5's season

Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Fennel (Florence/bulbing) needs about 90 days from sowing to first harvest.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for Fennel (Florence/bulbing).

Where to buy fennel seeds

• Botanical Interests
• True Leaf Market
• Burpee
• High Mowing Organic Seeds

See why we recommend these suppliers →

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing fennel (florence/bulbing)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

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Growing Fennel (Florence/bulbing) in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.

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