When to Plant Fennel (herb) in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Sow October to January. Right now in October you can sow.

Planting window
Sow direct from November to January once the soil is warm, for an autumn harvest. May be semi-perennial where frosts are mild.
Days to harvest
60 days
Sunlight
Full sun.
Water needs
Low water needs once established. Water regularly when young. Very drought tolerant as a...
Spacing
30cm apart, 60cm between rows
Soil pH
5.5-7.0

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Fennel (herb) guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Fennel (herb)

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Herb fennel (common fennel) is a tall, feathery perennial grown for its anise-flavoured leaves, stems and seeds. NOT the same as Florence/bulb fennel (F. vulgare var. azoricum). Herb fennel is hardy, drought-tolerant, and can become a large landscape plant reaching 1.5-2m. Considered a weed in parts of Australia, grow responsibly.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
T/D - - - - - - - - S S/T/D S/T/D

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.6°C (optimal range: 10–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Fennel (herb) in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Sow direct from November to January once the soil is warm, for an autumn harvest. May be semi-perennial where frosts are mild.

Soil
Any well-drained soil. Tolerant of poor soils. Drought tolerant once established.
pH Range
5.5-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun.
Spacing
30cm apart, 60cm between rows
Watering
Low water needs once established. Water regularly when young. Very drought tolerant as a perennial.

Companion plants: Dill (distant), Sage

Avoid planting near: Tomato, Bean, Capsicum, Coriander, fennel is allelopathic and inhibits growth of many vegetables

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Fennel (herb)

Recommended Varieties

  • Common fennel

Key Challenges

  • Hard frosts may kill plants
  • Short growing season

Pro Tips

  • Protect crowns with thick mulch over winter
  • May need replanting after severe winters
  • Sheltered positions help

Harvesting Fennel (herb)

When ready: Harvest leaves anytime once plant is established. Seeds ready when brown on plant.

How to harvest: Snip feathery fronds as needed. Cut seed heads when brown and dry in paper bags. Harvest young stems for cooking.

Where to next

What fennel costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this October: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Celeriac and Kohlrabi.

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Common Questions About Fennel (herb)

When do you plant fennel in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does fennel grow all year round in Canberra?

No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Jan, Oct to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.