Chervil
Anthriscus cerefolium
Zones 3–9
Growing
Because of its delicate nature and preference for cooler temperatures, chervil thrives best when sown directly into its final growing spot rather than being moved via transplant. This herb prefers a location with partial sun or even shade, where the soil remains evenly moist. Aim for a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 to support healthy growth. Since this is a biennial herb, you can enjoy its tender, upright stems as a cool season crop that can even withstand light frost.
When you are ready to use your harvest, simply pick the leaves as needed, as the herb does not continue to ripen once it has been gathered. Because the flavor is quite subtle, it is best to use it fresh in dishes like fines herbes. After harvesting, make sure to wash the leaves thoroughly. To keep your supply fresh, you can store the cleaned leaves in the fridge or even freeze them for later use.
| Sun | part sun |
|---|---|
| Water | medium |
| Grow time | <45 days |
| Height | 1–3ft |
| Spacing | 6–12in |
| Full sun | ✗ |
|---|---|
| Part shade | ✓ |
| Shade | ✓ |
| Life cycle | biennial |
|---|---|
| Category | herb |
| Growth habit | upright |
| Season | cool |
| Frost tolerance | half hardy |
| Height | 1–3ft |
| Spacing | 6–12in |
| Days to maturity | under 45 |
| Water | medium |
|---|---|
| Drainage | moist |
| Soil ph min | 6.0 |
| Soil ph max | 7.0 |
| Propagation | |
| Seed | ✓ |
| Cutting | ✗ |
| Division | ✗ |
| Graft | ✗ |
| Tuber bulb crown | ✗ |
| Transplant | ✗ |
| Container ok | ✓ |
| Pollination | self fertile |
| Pollinator friendly | ✓ |
| Toxic parts | |
| Leaves | ✗ |
| Seeds | ✗ |
| Raw | ✗ |
| Wash before storing | ✓ |
|---|---|
| Ripens off plant | ✗ |
| Curing days | none |
| Shelf life | 3–7d |
| Storage methods | |
| Room temp | ✗ |
| Cool dark | ✗ |
| Fridge | ✓ |
| Freeze | ✓ |
| Can | ✗ |
| Dry | ✓ |
| Ferment pickle | ✓ |
| Blanch before freezing | ✗ |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Harvest | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
References: Wikipedia · USDA PLANTS: Anthriscus cerefolium (ANCE) · how this data is made