Herb · Annual herb
Chervil
Anthriscus cerefoliumChervil is a delicate, anise-scented herb that prefers the cool, gentle light of shoulder-season growing over the harsh glare of summer. Its fine, lacy leaves are best used fresh, since drying dulls the flavor considerably. The one rule: give it shade once warmth arrives, or it will bolt to seed within days.
Sow depth
¼ in
Spacing
6 in · rows 10 in
Sun
Sun or part shade
Germination
10–14 days
Time to harvest
40–55 days
Difficulty
Easy
When to sow chervil
- Sow from about 3 weeks before your last expected frost until about 2 weeks after your last expected frost.
- Sow from about 9 weeks before the first expected autumn frost until about 5 weeks before the first expected autumn frost.
Direct sow shallowly — chervil dislikes root disturbance from transplanting.Choose a cool, partly shaded spot, especially for later sowings.Succession sow every few weeks for a continuous supply of fresh leaves.
Keep soil consistently moist — dry conditions push plants to bolt.Provide afternoon shade if a warm spell arrives during growth.Snip flower stalks as soon as they appear to prolong leaf production.
Snip outer leaves as needed — the plant keeps producing from the center.Harvest before flowering for the mildest, sweetest flavor.Use leaves fresh and soon after picking, since they wilt quickly.
Companion plants
Chervil is said to improve radish flavor and its shade-loving habit fits neatly beneath taller companions.
Watch out for
Bolting — Warmth and long daylight push chervil to flower and turn bitter fast. Grow it in cool, shaded conditions and sow little and often.