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I put quite a few seeds out this year, twice and only had 3 good fennel plants. They were delicious and I would like to improve my methods. I used 3 seeds at a station and waited for warmer weather but am now wondering if growing at home and transplanting is feasible, They were affected by poor germination or slugs perhaps. I use root trainers

I grew them from seed once, years ago but my husband helpfully weeded them all out as he didn't recognise them.   Since then I've grown them most successfully as bought in plugs which I plant at 9" apart.  They like some heat to ripen but are best not planted out before July as they can bolt.

One warm summer I had swallow tail caterpillars on the plants - very beautiful and civilised too as they only eat the fronds and not the bulbs.   

I've not had a problem with germination, but it's a relative of the parsnip so it wouldn't surprise me if it could be awkward, but saying that if you've ever let it's non-florentine cousin self-seed you'll know how easily they germinate.

I wouldn't transplant, the tep-root will inevitably get damaged and I can't imagine that would help.  Fresh seed is probably important - I've had no complaints with Kings.

The problem I've always had is that it doesn't heart-up, and apparently that's because I've planted it too early.

What kind of soil do you have?  If it's very sandy like mine than drying out can be a problem - you need to water seelings daily, and maybe provide a bit of shade too.

I did fennel this year by starting in modules first week of july, outside somewhere sheltered where they wouldn't dry out too quickly, then planted out mid august.... I only grew a few as it was an experiment but I've had half a dozen good plants, only two bolted and even then were useable... FIrst time I've ever been successful but it might be down to the wet conditions... they're a swamp-land plant originally so that stadns to reason.... I've still got one left that I will probaby harvest this weekend...

I suspect the Florence type is too tricky for me but a handy hint: a well established ordinary fennel plant can have its thick young shoots cut and used in salads like celery or Florence fennel. It's only later in the season it gets stringy. You can certainly cut the stems in April for this.

Saw vast amounts of this growing as a weed in Kefalonia, Greece. All you need then is emulate the Greek climate.