When to Plant Fennel in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
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This Fennel guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Dec to Mar
- Days to harvest
- 60 days
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.0
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).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate
- Jan S/T/D
- Feb S/T/D
- Mar T/D
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec S/T/D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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How to Grow Fennel in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Any well-drained soil. Tolerant of poor soils. Drought tolerant once established.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- 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.
- Good companions
- Lettuce, Cucumber, Peas, Sage, Chicory and Radicchio
- Keep away from
- Amaranth, Angelica, Broad Beans, Cape Gooseberry, Capsicum, Carrot, Cherry, Chickpeas, Chilli peppers, Climbing Beans, Coriander, Dill, Dwarf Beans, Eggplant, Kohlrabi, Lemongrass, Quinoa, Snake Beans, Strawberry, Tomatillo, Tomato
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Fennel
Recommended Varieties
- Common fennel
- Bronze fennel
Key Challenges
- Winter dieback
- Slow spring recovery
Pro Tips
- Mulch crown in winter for protection
- Very productive once established
- Less weedy in cooler zones
Pests and problems for Fennel in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Fennel
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.
Storing and preserving fennel
How to keep it
- Drying seeds. Dry seed heads in paper bags for 2-3 weeks. Store whole seeds. Toast before grinding for best flavour. Keeps: 2-3 years whole seeds.
- Freezing fronds. Chop fronds finely, freeze in ice cube trays with water or oil. Keeps: 6 months.
- Fennel pollen. Harvest flower heads when bright yellow and heavy with pollen. Dry on paper in dark room for 3-5 days. Sift pollen from flowers. Extraordinary flavour. The saffron of the herb world. Keeps: 12 months in airtight jar, refrigerated.
What fennel costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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Common Questions About Fennel
When do you plant fennel in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Aug Likely to bolt if sown in June, July and August.
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Feb to Oct Likely to bolt if sown in July, August, September and October.
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec Likely to bolt if sown in September, October and November.
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Mar, Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Oct to Dec Likely to bolt if sown in October and November.
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Feb to May
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to May, Aug to Nov Likely to bolt if sown in September, October and November.
Can you grow fennel all year round in Melbourne?
No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Mar, Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Fennel in Melbourne?
Florence fennel for bulbs does best sown in late summer and early autumn, so it swells in cool weather; spring sowings bolt as the days lengthen, so we leave them out. Herb fennel is a perennial that dies back in winter. Wild fennel is a declared weed in Tasmania and an environmental weed in Victoria, so cut off flower heads before seed ripens, whatever the variety.
What soil temperature do Fennel need?
Fennel germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 25°C.
How do I know when Fennel are ready to harvest?
Harvest leaves anytime once plant is established. Seeds ready when brown on plant.
What are the best Fennel varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Common fennel, Bronze fennel.
What grows well with Fennel?
Good companion plants for Fennel include: Lettuce, Cucumber, Peas, Sage, Chicory and Radicchio.
Are fennel salt tolerant?
Only a little. Fennel are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.