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When to Plant Chervil in Eddy County, ND

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.

Eddy County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is September 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 864 feet, Eddy County receives approximately 29.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 78ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Chervil to ensure they mature before fall.

Eddy County, ND (Zone 3b) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 27

Eddy County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (40 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Aug 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (39 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Aug 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (42 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Aug 31

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 Eddy County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4โ€“7.4) overlaps with Chervil's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.6%). Annual compost additions will help Chervil.

How to Plant Chervil

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

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Chervil

4
successive plantings in your 137-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 29 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 05.

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 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€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 2.2" 4.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Eddy 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 ~425 GDD — county provides 1,164 GDD Excellent fit

Chervil Planting Timeline โ€” Eddy County, ND

Chervil Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 15
Transplant Outdoors May 6 May 6 โ€“ May 20
Direct Sow May 6 May 6 โ€“ May 27
Harvest June 17 Jun 17 โ€“ Aug 19
Fall Sowing July 5 Jul 5 โ€“ Jul 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
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Harvest
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 Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 3b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

137 days in Eddy County

Growing Tips for Chervil in Eddy County

Direct sow Chervil outdoors after May 13 in Eddy County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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 Eddy County, ND?

Eddy County is in Zone 3b 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 Eddy County, ND?

Eddy County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is September 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Eddy County gardeners in Zone 3b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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