I've been trying to grow fennel for several years now. The starts tend to bolt fairly quickly so I let them go to seed and little side sprouts grew from the root. Right now, I have a bunch of self sown small plants and will see if they get bigger. They seem to prefer cool weather and space. So far, I've only had 'baby' fennels but they are wonderful.

Are these plants for fennel the herb or fennel the bulb vegetable?

These are for the bulb vegetable. There are 6 in the container that I bought....about 10" tall and I need to put them in the garden. Do I plant the bulb or just the roots?
Help!!!

Put the entire plant in the ground--about 12" apart if they are like our fennels. Fennel is a host plant for swallowtail butterflies, so be careful about overhead watering, and don't use BT on them (bacillus thuringsis or however it is spelled). The caterpillars of the swallowtails won't do enough damage to count, and you will have fennel and something beautiful to watch, too!
Fennel is easily grown from seed, so if you like it, you might want to get some seed and go for it next year.

Last year I direct seeded fennel and it grew beautifully. The plants were like tiny blades of grass at first and seemed dangerously fragile. They sized up quite quickly though and became large, sturdy plants. The "bulb" is an enlarged portion of the stalks. It grows above ground. Don't bury the bulb.

Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: Picture of Fennel Growing

Thanks JIM.....this is what I have and will plant today. My first try with fennel.

RM

I agree about the quick bolting in hot weather. I have some growing now here in suburban Maryland, but I suspect it will start to bolt soon. My best time for growing it is in the fall. I am no expert, but this is what has worked for me: start seeds in late July, early August, plant in rich moist soil; mulch with straw and keep moist. This has led to large bulbs in fall. Still, the smaller bulbs I will get in the early summer still taste good, and the leaves go well with fish.

I have been unsuccessful two years in a row. They might not like the dry, acidic conditions of my summer garden, so try to keep them well watered and give them a neutral soil. Fennel is also known to be a poor companion to most vegetables, so give it its own patch.