Blog

When to Plant Chervil in Tillamook County, OR

Tillamook County, Oregon Zone 9a May

Tillamook County, Oregon gardeners: here's your May plan

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Tillamook County, Oregon this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost April 19
Avg. first frost October 29
Soil temp (4") 71°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.7 hrs
  1. Get chervil seeds going inside

    These need a head start before your last frost (April 19). Sow into cells now so you're ready to transplant in a few weeks.

  2. Basket week: chervil

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • First harvests: chervil

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Tillamook County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 193 days.

At an elevation of 332 feet, Tillamook County receives approximately 40.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Chervil during the growing season.

Tillamook County, OR (Zone 9a) Moderate season
193 days
Last Spring Frost April 19
193 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29
Share this guide:

Tillamook County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (97 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jul 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (95 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jul 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (94 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 14

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 Tillamook County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.5) is more acidic than Chervil prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.3%) — Chervil will thrive.

How to Plant Chervil

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

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Chervil

5
successive plantings in your 193-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 30 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 03.

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

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 5.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 2.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 1.8" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jul 2.2" 0.7" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 2.2" 0.8" 1.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 2.2" 1.8" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.2" 3.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 6.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 6.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Tillamook 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 ~688 GDD — county provides 2,653 GDD Excellent fit

Chervil Planting Timeline — Tillamook County, OR

Chervil Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5
Transplant Outdoors April 12 Apr 12 – Apr 26
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 19
Harvest May 24 May 24 – Jul 26
Fall Sowing September 3 Sep 3 – Sep 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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 9a

📆 Growing Season

193 days in Tillamook County

Growing Tips for Chervil in Tillamook County

Direct sow Chervil outdoors after April 19 in Tillamook County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 193.0-day season in Tillamook 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 Tillamook County, OR?

Tillamook County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of April 19. Plan your Chervil planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Tillamook County, OR?

Tillamook County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and first fall frost is October 29.

🌱

Your Tillamook County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Tillamook County (Zone 9a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Tillamook County, OR. 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.