Finale
Fennel in the US

Right, so fennel. It's in the same family as carrots and parsley, the Apiaceae lot. You'll want to sow your seeds pretty shallow, about a quarter inch deep, whether you're starting them indoors or direct in the ground. For those in warmer spots, zone 9 and 10, you can get going from January, while colder zones, like 3, will be looking at May or June. The GrowMore CookMore app has all the timings for your USDA zone, you know, but a good rule of thumb is to sow when the soil's warmed up but before the real summer heat kicks in, to stop it bolting too early. About 80 days from sowing to harvest, so succession planting every few weeks works a treat for a continuous supply.

If you're starting seeds indoors, which I do for some varieties, pot them on into individual cells when they've got their first proper leaves. Then, you've got to harden them off gradually for a week or two before planting them out. Wait until any danger of frost has passed, then put them in the ground about 8 to 12 inches apart. They don't need much in the way of support, just give them enough room to grow their bulbs. You can grow them in containers too, mind, as long as it's a decent-sized pot, maybe 10-12 inches across for one plant.