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Legend
- Start Indoors
- Transplant
- Start Outdoors
- Care
- Harvest
- Succession Plant
Finely cut, feathery and flavorful leaves are essential to French cooking
Chervil's lacy leaves are finely cut and light green, as delicate and dainty as their flavor is subtle. The classic herb is essential in French "fines herbs" mixtures and used as a Tarragon substitute. Chervil has a refined taste reminiscent of anise and parsley, delicious in salads or to highlight sauces, sautés and soups. Hard to find in U.S. markets, Chervil is an important herb for kitchen gardeners to grow - its special flavor rewards your efforts many times over. This is considered one of the best French varieties.
Apiaceae Anthriscus cerefolium
This is an example of the timeline you would see based on your growing conditions.
Chervil: Chervil
Fancy French
Chervil's lacy leaves are finely cut and light green, as delicate and dainty as their flavor is subtle. The classic herb is essential in French "fines herbs" mixtures and is often used as a Tarragon substitute. Chervil has a refined taste reminiscent of Anise and Parsley, delicious in salads or to highlight sauces, sautés and soups. Hard to find in U.S. markets, Chervil is an important herb for kitchen gardeners to grow - its special flavor rewards your efforts many times over. Good plant for succession sowing.
Basics
- Ease of Growing
- Moderate
- Grown as
- Annual
- Days to Maturity
- 60-75 (Spring/Summer), 65-80 (Fall/Winter)
- Growing Habit
- -
- Hardiness
- Hardy
Chervil can tolerate a light frost but more severe frosts may kill the plant.
- Crops
- Spring, Fall
- Growing Season
- Short, Long
- Cultivar Type
- -
- Growing Conditions
- Cold, Cool, Warm
Start Chervil in early spring when weather is settled but still cool. In hotter climates plant in filtered sun or light shade.
- Outdoor Growing Temp
- 50°F - 80°F
- Min Outdoor Soil Temp
- 50°F
Chervil germinates well in cool temperatures, even at 50˚ F.
- Start Indoors
- No
- Start Outdoors
- Yes
- Light
- Water
- Moderate
Keep Chervil well watered.
- Feeder
- Moderate
Chervil needs rich soil. Fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks with a high nitrogen source or liquid fish emulsion solution.
- Suitability
- Tolerates light frost, Tolerates hard frost, Partial shade, Needs summer shade
- Small Gardens?
- Yes
- Containers?
- Yes
Chervil is an excellent container plant and can be grown indoors. It should get at least 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight. Be sure to water regularly.
- Attracts beneficial insects?
- Yes
- Color
- Light green
- Fruit Size
- - "
- Plant Height
- 10.0 - 24.0"
- Plant Diameter
- 8.0 - 15.0"
- Hardiness Zone
- 3-8
- Disease Resistance
- Taste Profile
Chervil has a flavor reminiscent of parsley and anise. It also enhances the flavors of other herbs. The flavor becomes bitter if cooked for too long.
- Rotation Group
- Leaves: Brassicas + Leafy Greens
Last Frost Date (LFD) refers to the approximate date of the last killing frost of spring.
Example first frost date on April 08.
First Frost Date (FFD) refers to the approximate date of the first killing frost of winter.
Example first frost date on November 01.
