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When to Plant Chervil in Jackson County, KS

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.

Jackson County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 191 days.

At an elevation of 909 feet, Jackson County receives approximately 25.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Chervil during the growing season.

Jackson County, KS (Zone 5b) Moderate season
191 days
Last Spring Frost April 14
191 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Jackson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (90 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jul 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (93 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (95 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Aug 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.

Soil Compatibility in Jackson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8โ€“7.8) is more alkaline than Chervil prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Jackson County is excellent for Chervil โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Chervil.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) โ€” 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 191-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 23 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 13.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 169 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” 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 โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 2.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.1" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 2.2" 1.6" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Jackson County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 ~688 GDD — county provides 2,626 GDD Excellent fit

Chervil Planting Timeline โ€” Jackson County, KS

Chervil Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 10 Mar 10 โ€“ Mar 24
Transplant Outdoors April 7 Apr 7 โ€“ Apr 21
Direct Sow March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 21
Harvest May 19 May 19 โ€“ Jul 21
Fall Sowing August 13 Aug 13 โ€“ Aug 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

191 days in Jackson County

Growing Tips for Chervil in Jackson County

Direct sow Chervil outdoors after April 14 in Jackson County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 191.0-day season in Jackson 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 Jackson County, KS?

Jackson County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 14. Plan your Chervil planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jackson County, KS?

Jackson County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and first fall frost is October 22.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Jackson 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 Jackson County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.