Chervil in Zone 5a & 5b
Anthriscus cerefolium
Yes, chervil grows in zones 5a and 5b. Start seeds indoors Mar 15–Mar 22 and plant out Apr 26–May 3.
When to plant chervil in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Mar 15–Mar 22 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 26–May 3 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 25–Jul 2 (~60 days after planting) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of chervil in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- DillMay 3–May 10
- BorageMay 10–May 17
- ChivesApr 26–May 3
- HorehoundApr 26–May 3
- Milk ThistleApr 26–May 3
- ParsleyApr 26–May 3
Chervil is one of the classic French fines herbes, a delicate, anise-and-parsley-flavored annual that fades fast once cut or cooked, which is why it's almost always added at the very end of a dish rather than during cooking.
How chervil fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Chervil needs about 60 days from sowing to first harvest.
Chervil planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 6–May 13 | Jul 5–Jul 12 |
| 3a & 3b | Apr 4–Apr 11 | May 16–May 23 | Jul 15–Jul 22 |
| 4a & 4b | Mar 20–Mar 27 | May 1–May 8 | Jun 30–Jul 7 |
| 5a & 5b (your zone) | Mar 15–Mar 22 | Apr 26–May 3 | Jun 25–Jul 2 |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | Jun 10–Jun 17 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 13–Feb 20 | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 26–Jun 2 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 11–Mar 18 | May 10–May 17 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 21–Dec 28 | Feb 1–Feb 8 | Apr 2–Apr 9 |
| 10a & 10b | Dec 5–Dec 12 | Jan 16–Jan 23 | Mar 17–Mar 24 |
Harvest dates are about 60 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for chervil.
Where to buy chervil seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's chervil seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- 'Fine Curled' chervil (best for standard curled type): Johnny's Selected Seeds' organic offering, similar to Vertissimo but the standard curled-leaf type most seed packets sell, with the lacy, fern-like leaves chervil is known for. Buy: True Leaf Market · Burpee Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing chervil" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Chervil in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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