When to plant Chervil in Cool Australia

Cool zone — applies to Hobart, Canberra, Ballarat, Orange, Armidale and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Sow chervil direct from January to March or September to December, dropping seed 6–10 mm deep straight into the bed, as it dislikes transplanting. Germination takes 14–21 days, and this quick, hardy annual is ready to pick in just 50–70 days. Thin plants to about 30 cm, with 20–25 cm between rows. Chervil prefers cool, moist, part-shaded conditions and bolts fast in heat, which makes the cool climates of Orange, Ballarat and Hobart ideal. Sow little and often to keep a steady supply of its delicate, aniseed-tinged leaves through the milder parts of the year.

Sowing calendar — cool zone

Green months are your sowing window: September to March.

Growing notes

Chervil is a hardy, cool-season herb that genuinely prefers the conditions cool districts offer. It runs to seed quickly in warmth and full sun, so the trick here is timing and position: sow in the cooler shoulders of the year and give it dappled shade rather than a baking bed. In the heat of midsummer around Canberra it will bolt regardless, so pause sowing then.

The main failure mode is bolting to flower before you have picked much. Heat, dry soil and long days all trigger it. Keep the soil consistently moist, mulch to hold coolness, and site chervil where taller plants or a fence shade it through the hottest part of the day.

Because it resents root disturbance, always sow direct and thin rather than transplant; a moved seedling often bolts straight away. Successional sowing every few weeks through the cool months keeps young, tender leaves coming, since older plants toughen and turn bitter as they age.

Harvest by cutting outer leaves from around 50 days, taking a little from many plants rather than stripping any one. Chervil's flavour fades when cooked hard, so add it late. Left to flower, it self-sows readily, and volunteer seedlings often appear in the cool, moist corners of the garden the following season.

Chervil at a glance

Common questions

Why does my chervil bolt so quickly?

Chervil bolts in response to heat, dry soil and long days, running to flower before you get much of a harvest. Sow it in the cooler months, keep the soil consistently moist, and grow it in part shade rather than full sun to slow it down.

Can you transplant chervil seedlings?

It is best sown direct, because chervil resents root disturbance and transplanted seedlings often bolt straight away. Sow the seed 6–10 mm deep where the plants are to grow and thin them to about 30 cm apart.

Does chervil grow well in Hobart?

Yes, chervil suits cool districts like Hobart, Orange and Ballarat well, because it prefers cool, moist, part-shaded conditions. Sow through the cooler months and pause over the hottest weeks of summer when it will bolt regardless.

How do I keep a steady supply of chervil?

Sow a short row every few weeks through the cool months, since chervil is quick to mature at 50–70 days but toughens and turns bitter as it ages. Harvest outer leaves rather than whole plants, and let a plant or two self-sow for volunteers next season.

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