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When to Plant Chervil in Forest County, WI

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.

Forest County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost is September 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 133 days.

At an elevation of 556 feet, Forest County receives approximately 34.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Chervil to ensure they mature before fall.

Forest County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
133 days
Last Spring Frost May 20
133 growing days
First Fall Frost September 30

Forest County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (32 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 19 – Aug 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (35 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Aug 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (33 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 19 Transplant: May 24 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Sep 6

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
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Chervil needs ~612 GDD — county provides 1,629 GDD Excellent fit

Chervil Planting Timeline โ€” Forest County, WI

Chervil Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 22
Transplant Outdoors May 13 May 13 โ€“ May 27
Direct Sow May 13 May 13 โ€“ Jun 3
Fall Sowing July 8 Jul 8 โ€“ Jul 22
Harvest June 24 Jun 24 โ€“ Aug 26

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
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Direct Sow Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August 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 4a

Growing Season

133 days

Growing Tips for Forest 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 Forest County, WI?

Forest County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 20. Plan your Chervil planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Forest County, WI?

Forest County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 20 and first fall frost is September 30.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Forest County gardeners in Zone 4a 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 Forest County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.