About Fennel
Fennel is allelopathic — it inhibits many vegetables through root compounds. Keep in an isolated bed or 2 m+ from most crops; never beside tomatoes or beans.
Treat fennel as a perimeter plant, not a row interplant, in NZ kitchen gardens.
Good companions
Plants that pair well with Fennel — tap for their guides. Cited sources appear where research is linked in the matrix.
No beneficial companions listed — check the full matrix for neutral pairings.
Avoid planting together
Known poor neighbours — spacing apart or rotating beds reduces shared pest and disease pressure.
Fennel can inhibit growth of many vegetables through allelopathic compounds — keep fennel in its own bed or 2 m+ away.
Bean (Bush) AllelopathyFennel allelopathy can inhibit legume growth — keep fennel beds 2 m+ from beans and peas.
CarrotListed as incompatible in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Sweet PepperListed as incompatible in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
CucumberListed as incompatible in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
DillListed as incompatible in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Cilantro AllelopathyFennel can cross-pollinate with cilantro and inhibits many vegetables — isolate fennel beds.
KohlrabiListed as incompatible in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
+ 2 more in the matrix
Growing tips
- Bronze and Florence types differ in spread — plan containment.
- Attracts beneficial insects when allowed to flower at garden margins.
- Cross-pollinates with cilantro — isolate if saving seed.
Use the compatibility matrix
Filter to Fennel to see green (beneficial), red (incompatible), and grey (neutral) for every pair among 162 plants. Desktop: hover cells. Mobile: tap for details.