Thompson & Morgan Kew 'Fennel' seeds

Part of the Kew Pollinators seed range, developed with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Fennel is a wonderfully versatile addition to the garden — as happy grown as a herb for its attractive feathery foliage as it is as a vegetable for its swollen, edible base and stem. The finely cut, aromatic foliage carries a delicate aniseed flavour, making it a lovely addition to salads or as a decorative garnish, while the plant's tall, architectural habit brings real presence to a kitchen garden or border. Fennel has a long history of use beyond the kitchen too, traditionally valued as a compress for softening rough, chapped hands and for treating a range of minor ailments. Though technically a short-lived perennial, it's most commonly grown as an annual, making way for fresh, vigorous plants each year.

Growing guide

Direct sow outdoors from March to July, into well-prepared soil in full sun, once temperatures reach around 13–18°C. Sow thinly into drills 1cm deep, spaced 38cm apart. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them out to 30cm apart. For a longer harvest, make regular successional sowings through the season rather than one single batch.

Keep plants well watered, particularly during hot, dry spells. Leaves can be harvested at any time for use in the kitchen, while for saving seed, allow the flowers to fade and harvest once the seed heads have fully ripened. If growing for the swollen stem base, cut once it reaches roughly tennis ball size for the best flavour and texture. Plants reach up to 180cm tall with a 45cm spread, so give them plenty of room to grow.