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When to Plant Chervil in Marinette County, WI

Marinette County, Wisconsin Zone 4b April

April in the garden — Marinette County, Wisconsin

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

Avg. last frost May 18
Avg. first frost October 1
Soil temp (4") 41°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.3 hrs
May prep starts now
  • Transplants going out: chervil
  • Direct-sowing: 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.

Marinette County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost is October 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 782 feet, Marinette County receives approximately 31.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Chervil to ensure they mature before fall.

Marinette County, WI (Zone 4b) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 18
136 growing days
First Fall Frost October 1

Marinette County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (39 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (38 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 6 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Aug 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (38 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 18 Transplant: May 23 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Sep 5

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 Marinette County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8–7.3) overlaps with Chervil's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) — Chervil will thrive.

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 136-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 02 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 09.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/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 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Marinette 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 ~612 GDD — county provides 1,666 GDD Excellent fit

Chervil Planting Timeline — Marinette County, WI

Chervil Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 6 Apr 6 – Apr 20
Transplant Outdoors May 11 May 11 – May 25
Direct Sow May 11 May 11 – Jun 1
Harvest June 22 Jun 22 – Aug 24
Fall Sowing July 9 Jul 9 – Jul 23

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Direct Sow Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Harvest
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 4b

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Marinette County

Growing Tips for Chervil in Marinette County

Direct sow Chervil outdoors after May 18 in Marinette 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 Marinette County, WI?

Marinette County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 18. Plan your Chervil planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Marinette County, WI?

Marinette County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 18 and first fall frost is October 1.

🌱

Your Marinette County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Marinette County (Zone 4b). 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 Marinette County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

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