Chervil Planting Guide

May

chervil this May — what to know

This page is about chervil in general. For your zone's exact planting and harvest dates, pick your county below.

Sun partial shade

Water moderate

Days to harvest 40–60

Plant depth 0.5″

Spacing 8″

How to water chervil
Consistent moisture matters more than volume for chervil. Little and often beats occasional drenching.
Where to put chervil
chervil wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant chervil. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

See when to plant chervil where you live →

Chervil is a delicate herb with a subtle anise-parsley flavor, essential in French cuisine as part of fines herbes. It prefers cool conditions and partial shade.

Anthriscus cerefolium · Herb · Apiaceae family · 40–60 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Chervil Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Chervil?

Zone Compatibility for Chervil Zones 3a – 10b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 3a	Apr 3	May 8	May 8	Jun 19 – Aug 21
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 3	May 3	Jun 14 – Aug 16
Zone 4a	Mar 25	Apr 29	Apr 29	Jun 10 – Aug 12
Zone 4b	Mar 20	Apr 24	Apr 24	Jun 5 – Aug 7
Zone 5a	Mar 21	Apr 11	Apr 18	May 30 – Aug 1
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 4	Apr 11	May 23 – Jul 25
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Mar 27	Apr 3	May 15 – Jul 17
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Mar 20	Mar 27	May 8 – Jul 10
Zone 7a	Feb 18	Mar 11	Mar 18	Apr 29 – Jul 1
Zone 7b	Feb 11	Mar 4	Mar 11	Apr 22 – Jun 24
Zone 8a	Feb 1	Feb 22	Mar 1	Apr 12 – Jun 14
Zone 8b	Jan 21	Feb 11	Feb 18	Apr 1 – Jun 3
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Feb 3	Mar 17 – May 19
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 18	Mar 1 – May 3
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Dec 11	Dec 25	Feb 5 – Apr 9
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Dec 11	Dec 25	Feb 5 – Apr 9

How to Plant Chervil

0.5"

Planting Depth

Between Plants

12"

Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 10b

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Apiaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Apiaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Chervil

Chervil matures in just 40–60 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 5 successive plantings by sowing every 4.6 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Chervil

✅ Good Companions

Lettuce Radish Carrots

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Chervil

Direct sow in early spring or fall as chervil bolts in heat. Provide shade and cool conditions. Harvest outer leaves as needed; use fresh as it loses flavor when dried.

Saving Chervil Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

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Breathable fabric pots that promote healthy root growth and prevent overwatering.

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Self-Watering Planters $15-40

Built-in reservoir keeps herbs and greens consistently watered with less effort.

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Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

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Seed Saving & Storage Guide

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Chervil by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Chervil?

Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) takes 40 to 60 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Chervil grow in?

Chervil can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Chervil need?

Growing Chervil requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.