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When to Plant Chervil in Sevier County, AR

Sevier County, Arkansas Zone 8a May

May in the garden — Sevier County, Arkansas

May is a pivotal month for Sevier County, Arkansas gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost March 25
Avg. first frost November 6
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Collect chervil at their peak

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • First harvests: chervil

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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.

Sevier County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost is November 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 226 days.

At an elevation of 845 feet, Sevier County receives approximately 49.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Chervil during the growing season.

Sevier County, AR (Zone 8a) Long season
226 days
Last Spring Frost March 25
226 growing days
First Fall Frost November 6

Sevier County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (131 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 9 Transplant: Mar 9 🍅 Harvest: Apr 20 – Jun 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (128 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Mar 18 🍅 Harvest: Apr 29 – Jul 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (126 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jul 22

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.

Soil Compatibility in Sevier County

How your county's soil matches Chervil's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4–6.5) is more acidic than Chervil prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Sevier County is excellent for Chervil — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Chervil.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.6%). Annual compost additions will help Chervil.

How to Plant Chervil

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Chervil

6
successive plantings in your 226-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 07 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 28.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Chervil

Chervil needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Chervil Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Sevier County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Chervil Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Chervil needs ~838 GDD — county provides 3,785 GDD Excellent fit

Chervil Planting Timeline — Sevier County, AR

Chervil Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 18 Feb 18 – Mar 4
Transplant Outdoors March 18 Mar 18 – Apr 1
Direct Sow March 11 Mar 11 – Apr 1
Harvest April 29 Apr 29 – Jul 1
Fall Sowing August 28 Aug 28 – Sep 11

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

226 days in Sevier County

Growing Tips for Chervil in Sevier County

Direct sow Chervil outdoors after March 25 in Sevier County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 226.0-day season in Sevier County allows multiple plantings of Chervil. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Chervil in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Chervil in Sevier County, AR?

Sevier County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 25. Plan your Chervil planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sevier County, AR?

Sevier County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 25 and first fall frost is November 6.

🌱

Your Sevier County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Sevier County (Zone 8a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Sevier County, AR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.