Side by side
Pick two or three seeds to see how they grow, side by side: sprouting, spacing, sun, water, frost and pet safety in one table.
Comparing Carrot vs. Florence Fennel
The comparison
| Fact | | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate |
| Life cycle | Biennial | Not yet verified |
| Germination time | 7–21 days | 7–10 days |
| Germination temperature | 13–18 °C55–64 °F | Not yet verified |
| Sowing depth | 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in | 6 mm¼ in |
| Spacing between plants | Not yet verified | 20–30 cm8–12 in |
| Sun | Full sun, partial shade | Full sun |
| Water | Not yet verified | Moderate |
| Containers | Yes, 1.9 L or largerYes, 2 qt or larger | Yes |
| Frost tolerance | Half-hardy (light frost) | Half-hardy (light frost) |
| Soil pH | pH 6.0–6.5 | pH 6.5–8.0 |
| Toxicity to cats | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Toxicity to dogs | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Links |
Up close
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
VegetablesDaucus carota
A sweet, cool-season root crop sown straight into loose, stone-free soil. The seeds are slow to sprout, so keep the soil surface moist, then thin the seedlings for straight roots.
How to grow carrotVegetablesFoeniculum vulgare var. azoricum
Florence fennel is a cool-season vegetable grown for its edible bulbs. It is sown in full sun and needs evenly moist soil to form good bulbs and avoid bolting.
How to grow florence fennelKeep comparing
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
Carrot vs. Florence Fennel vs. Acorn SquashAdd acorn squash as a third
Carrot vs. Florence Fennel vs. Armenian CucumberAdd armenian cucumber as a third
Carrot vs. Florence Fennel vs. ArtichokeAdd artichoke as a thirdCarrot vs. Acorn SquashCarrot against another vegetableFlorence Fennel vs. Acorn SquashFlorence Fennel against another vegetableCarrot vs. Armenian CucumberCarrot against another vegetableThe table, row by row
Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
Comparing
Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.
