Green Fennel is a compact, frost-tolerant herb from the Apiaceae family that reaches 36 inches tall with finely textured, light-green foliage. Ready to harvest in just 16-25 days, this open-pollinated variety thrives in full sun across hardiness zones 4-4 and produces delicate flowers from summer through fall that attract pollinators. Its quick turnaround and pollinator-friendly blooms make it a natural choice for gardeners seeking both culinary herbs and living garden architecture.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-4
36in H x 36in W
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Moderate
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Green Fennel's finely textured leaves and compact growth habit deliver the visual elegance of fennel without overwhelming a garden bed. The plant flowers prolifically from June through November, drawing pollinators throughout the growing season with its delicate blooms. Its rapid 16-25 day harvest window means you can succession-plant for continuous harvests, and its tolerance of frost extends the season well into autumn when many other herbs have faded.
Green Fennel's tender young leaves are harvested fresh for their delicate anise-like character, lending themselves to fresh garnishing, light salads, and as a finishing touch to seafood dishes. The fine foliage makes it particularly suited to microgreen production, where it can be harvested at 16-25 days for concentrated, tender leaves. Its long flowering period produces nectar-rich blooms that serve both ornamental and pollinator-supporting roles in the garden.
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Start seeds indoors in late winter in pots, maintaining temperatures between 55-65°F. Soak seeds for 4 days prior to sowing to improve germination. Sow on potting mix or soilless medium in shallow trays, pressing seeds firmly into media with 1/8 to 1/4 inch spacing for maximum soil contact, then cover lightly with sowing mix or vermiculite. Seeds will germinate within 7-30 days.
Transplant seedlings outdoors in early spring into cool soil conditions. Space plants 1 inch apart in their final location.
Direct sow in early spring into cool soil.
Begin harvesting Green Fennel's tender leaves at 16-25 days after sowing, when foliage is lush and green. For microgreen production, cut leaves just above soil level at the lower end of this window for the most tender harvest. Pick outer leaves selectively to encourage continued growth, or harvest the entire plant at once. Fresh leaves should be used promptly or refrigerated; shelf life ranges from 5-10 days under proper storage conditions. Microgreens must be washed before serving.
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