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When to plant Chervil in Randolph County, IL

Randolph County's climate puts the Chervil spring window between March 28 and April 18. most warm-season crops establish quickly once soil holds above 60°F. A second sowing from August 11 to August 25 extends the harvest into fall.

When to Plant Chervil in Randolph County, IL

Randolph County, Illinois Zone 7a June

Your June planting checklist for Randolph County, Illinois

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this June, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost April 11
Avg. first frost October 20
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Basket week: chervil

    Taste as you pick. The first ripe produce is the best feedback loop you'll get all season.

Looking ahead to July
  • 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.

Randolph County, Illinois is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 501 feet, Randolph County receives approximately 32.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Chervil during the growing season.

Randolph County, IL (Zone 7a) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 11
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20

Randolph County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Chervil Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (92 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 10 – Jul 12
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (94 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jul 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (92 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Jul 30

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 Randolph County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–6.8) overlaps with Chervil's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.8%) — Chervil will thrive.

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

5
successive plantings in your 192-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 21 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 11.

Chervil Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/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 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Randolph 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 ~725 GDD — county provides 2,784 GDD Excellent fit

Chervil Planting Timeline — Randolph County, IL

Chervil Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 7 Mar 7 – Mar 21
Transplant Outdoors April 4 Apr 4 – Apr 18
Direct Sow March 28 Mar 28 – Apr 18
Harvest May 16 May 16 – Jul 18
Fall Sowing August 11 Aug 11 – Aug 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September
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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

192 days in Randolph County

Growing Tips for Chervil in Randolph County

Direct sow Chervil outdoors after April 11 in Randolph County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 192.0-day season in Randolph 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 Randolph County, IL?

Randolph County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 11. Plan your Chervil planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Randolph County, IL?

Randolph County, Illinois is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and first fall frost is October 20.

When should I plant Chervil in Randolph County, IL?

In Randolph County, IL, plant Chervil after the last frost (around April 11) and before the first frost (around October 20). Best results when soil holds above 50°F.

What growing zone is Randolph County, IL for Chervil?

Randolph County sits in USDA Zone 7a. Chervil grows reliably in zones 3a through 10b, so it's a good fit here.

Can Chervil grow in Randolph County's climate?

Yes — Chervil grows well in Randolph County's temperate climate. Randolph County averages a 192-day frost-free season, with last frost around April 11 and first frost around October 20.

🌱

Your Randolph County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Randolph County (Zone 7a). 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 Randolph County, IL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

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