How to grow chervil
Anthriscus cerefolium · Apiaceae · Herb
When to plant chervil: the short answer
Sow outdoors about 3 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 7 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 70°F, fastest near 60°F.
Cold winters (zone 5): sow Apr 4 – Apr 23, or sow Aug 7 – Aug 24 for a fall crop. Mild winters (zone 9): sow Oct 2 – Oct 19 for fall and winter harvests; the spring window (Jan 25 – Feb 13) closes before the summer heat. Skip the hottest months for chervil. See every zone.
Chervil is a cool-season herb in the Apiaceae family, almost always sown straight into the ground where it will grow. It wants partial shade — four to six hours of sun is enough and steady, even moisture. From sowing to first pick is about 40–60 days. It shrugs off a light frost but a hard freeze will damage it.
Grower’s note: A delicate, anise-tinged 'gourmet parsley' that bolts the moment it turns hot - grow it in spring and fall, in the shade of taller crops. Sow where it will grow; it hates transplanting. Add it at the end of cooking or the flavour is lost.
Sowing
Sow about 0.25″ deep, into soil between 45–70°F — germination is quickest near 60°F. Germination takes a week or two (7–14 days). It does not transplant well, so sow it in its final position rather than starting it in pots.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 6″ along the row with roughly 8″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 9 per square foot. Allow at least 8″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 8″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, chervil does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. A second sowing in late summer, timed to mature as the weather cools, is usually the better crop of the year — though a hard freeze will end it.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long chervil takes to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 40-60 days (6-9 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 7-14 days in soil around 60°F.
When to plant chervil
When to plant chervil by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Fall or second sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | - | Apr 19 – May 8 | Jul 18 – Aug 4 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | - | Apr 14 – May 3 | Jul 28 – Aug 14 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | - | Apr 4 – Apr 23 | Aug 7 – Aug 24 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | - | Mar 20 – Apr 8 | Aug 17 – Sep 3 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | - | Mar 10 – Mar 29 | Aug 27 – Sep 13 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | - | Feb 22 – Mar 13 | Sep 7 – Sep 24 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | - | Jan 25 – Feb 13 | Oct 2 – Oct 19 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | - | Jan 4 – Jan 23 | Oct 17 – Nov 3 |
Compare with the other herbs: when to plant herbs, by zone.
Companions
Lettuce, Radish
No strong antagonists recorded.
Common problems
Pests: aphids, slugs.
Diseases & disorders: powdery mildew, damping off.
Same family (Apiaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant chervil?
Sow outdoors about 3 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 7 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 70°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does chervil take to grow?
About 40-60 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days, fastest in soil around 60°F.
How much sun does chervil need?
It needs about three to four hours of sun, ideally with shade in the afternoon.
What soil pH does chervil need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant chervil?
Space plants about 6 inches apart in rows 8 inches apart, or 9 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep.
Can I grow chervil in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 8 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.