Fennel | Florence

Grow crisp, aromatic, and delicious bulbs of Florence Fennel right in your home garden. Also known as Finocchio, this celebrated Italian heirloom variety is a versatile garden favorite, prized for its thick, layered, bulb-like base, feathery emerald foliage, and bright, sweet anise flavor that adds an elegant crunch to fresh salads, roasts, and gourmet dishes.

As functional as it is beautiful, Florence Fennel offers a dual harvest for home gardeners: enjoy the juicy, sweet bulbs cooked or sliced thin, while snipping the delicate, fragrant fronds for fresh herbal garnishes and seasonings. Fast-growing and heat-resistant, these sturdy plants thrive in raised beds, garden plots, and sunny container displays across Canada.

Why Grow Florence Fennel?

• Classic Italian heirloom producing thick, tender bulbs with a crisp, juicy texture
• Sweet, delicate anise and licorice flavor profile prized in Mediterranean cooking
• Dual-purpose crop—harvest both the sweet, layered bulbs and aromatic fronds
• Slow to bolt with excellent heat tolerance for reliable summer performance
• Attracts beneficial pollinators and butterflies to the garden plot
• Approximately 80–90 days to maturity
• Grows best in full sun
• Open-pollinated heirloom variety
• Approximately 50-60 seeds per packet

How to Grow Florence Fennel from Seed

Direct sow fennel seeds outdoors in late spring after the danger of frost has passed, or start indoors 4–5 weeks prior to your last spring frost date using peat pots to minimize root disturbance during transplanting.

Sow seeds approximately 6 mm (1/4 inch) deep and 2.5 cm (1 inch) apart in rows spaced 45 cm (18 inches) apart. When seedlings reach 7–10 cm (3–4 inches) tall, thin them to a final spacing of 20–30 cm (8–12 inches) apart to allow ample room for full bulb formation.

Choose a warm, full sun location with loose, light, and well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Water consistently and deeply to keep the soil evenly moist; steady moisture prevents premature bolting and ensures bulbs remain tender and sweet.

As the bulbous bases expand to the size of a tennis ball, hill loose soil around them to blanch the tissue, keeping it pale white, succulent, and delicate.

Growing Fennel in Canada

Florence Fennel is exceptionally well-suited to Canadian growing conditions, performing beautifully when sown in late spring to mature through the sunny days of mid-to-late summer. In regions with long autumns, a second midsummer sowing provides a crisp fall harvest that sweetens further as cool night temperatures arrive.

For detailed instructions covering seed starting, spacing, watering, fertilizing, harvesting, and pest management, read our How To Grow Fennel in Canada | Complete Guide. 

Florence Fennel Growing Information

Feature	Detail
Botanical Name	Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum
Common Name	Florence Fennel / Finocchio / Sweet Fennel
Plant Type	Herbaceous perennial grown as an annual bulb crop
Sun Requirements	Full sun
Days to Maturity	Approximately 80–90 days
Seed Count	Approximately 50-60 seeds
Pollination Type	Open-pollinated heirloom variety
Best Uses	Fresh salad slicing, roasting, Mediterranean stews, seafood pairings, and herbal garnishes

Grow Your Own Florence Fennel

There is nothing quite like harvesting crisp, aromatic bulbs of sweet fennel fresh from your garden plot. With its vibrant fronds, sweet anise flavor, and gourmet versatility, Florence Fennel is an essential and rewarding addition to your Canadian vegetable patch.

Sow your seeds this season and enjoy an abundant harvest of homegrown gourmet fennel!