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When to Plant Chervil in Lincoln County, CO

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.

Lincoln County, Colorado is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is October 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 143 days.

At an elevation of 6,293 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 13.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Chervil during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Chervil successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Lincoln County, CO (Zone 5b) Short season
143 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
143 growing days
First Fall Frost October 3

Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (39 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 4 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Aug 15
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (45 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Aug 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (37 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 25 Transplant: May 23 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Sep 5

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 904 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Chervil needs ~725 GDD — county provides 2,073 GDD Excellent fit

Chervil Planting Timeline โ€” Lincoln County, CO

Chervil Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 22
Transplant Outdoors May 6 May 6 โ€“ May 20
Direct Sow April 29 Apr 29 โ€“ May 20
Fall Sowing July 25 Jul 25 โ€“ Aug 8
Harvest June 17 Jun 17 โ€“ Aug 19

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 5b

Growing Season

143 days

Growing Tips for Lincoln County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Chervil in Lincoln County, CO?

Lincoln County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Chervil planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, CO?

Lincoln County, Colorado is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is October 3.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lincoln County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Lincoln County, CO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.