Growing fennel bulbs in your garden is a weird challenge

Last spring, I planted fennel seeds in my garden and got nothin' and was a little demoralized by it. (Only a little.)

This spring, I got a big, fabulous fennely surprise!

This one is starting to bolt. I'd better cut it out of the ground and roast it before it's too late. Got like 10 of these! So stoked.

Have you ever grown fennel bulbs successfully in your garden, O gardeners of the intarwebs?