Vegetable
Florence Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum
Crunchy aniseed bulbs — sow after midsummer to prevent bolting.
Full sun
Regular
Rich, moist
Medium
Yes
Bulb & fronds
Biennial
Hardy
15 L
25 cm
Situations where this plant is a reliable fit — from someone's kitchen sill to a wind-blown rooftop.
Balcony
A few pots on a flat outdoor perch — some sun, some wind.
Grow bag
Cheap flexible bag, 20–40 L — hungry crops with big roots love these.
Reused bucket
A salvaged 10–20 L bucket with drainage holes — a proper productive pot for very little cost.
Raised bed
A traditional plot or timber-sided bed — deepest root run, widest planting choice.
Water jar
A jam jar of water on the sill — no soil at all. Regrow from kitchen scraps.
Root in water, transfer to soil
21 days
★★☆☆☆
Yes
How to do it
Same method as celery — water the rooty base, then pot on.
What to expect
Fronds for garnish — not a second bulb.
Honest note
The frondy aniseed-flavoured leaves are useful in salads — but no new bulb forms.
Where to source
Get growing in United Kingdom
Shop local first
The best plants come from a real nursery, and the best trowel comes from the old-fashioned ironmonger down the road — people who know their stock and can advise. Try local first, both for the plant and the kit. It keeps small growers and small hardware shops alive.
Searching near London
For pots, compost, seed trays, twine and other kit — Amazon has the essentials if the local option isn't right. Not a plant nursery; use the local map above for the plant itself.
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