root · direct sow
Florence Fennel: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating florence fennel a few times a week needs about 7 plants in ~11 sq ft, worth about $7 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$2.00/lb retail — an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 2 | ~3 sq ft | ~4 | ~$2 |
| 2 people | 4 | ~6 sq ft | ~8 | ~$4 |
| 4 people | 7 | ~11 sq ft | ~14 | ~$7 |
| 6 people | 10 | ~15 sq ft | ~20 | ~$10 |
Spacing
12" in row · 18" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
65 from transplant (80 from seed)
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 3 – May 8 | Jun 16 – Jul 21 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 29 – May 3 | Jun 26 – Jul 31 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 23 | Jul 6 – Aug 10 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 9 – Apr 13 | Jul 16 – Aug 20 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 22 – Mar 29 | Jul 26 – Aug 30 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 11 – Mar 18 | Aug 16 – Sep 20 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 9 – Feb 13 | Sep 5 – Oct 10 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 1 – Jan 24 | Sep 15 – Oct 20 |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Yield
About 0.6 heads per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.5 lb). Re-sow every ~21 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Carrot rust fly · Parsleyworm · Aphids — the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Keep away from tomato-slicing, tomato-cherry, tomato-paste.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
31 kcal · 3.1 g fiber · 12 mg vitamin C · 414 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code — not just your zone — in about 60 seconds.