Chervil Seeds - French Parsley Herb Seed

Chervil (Anthriscus Cerefolium) - Start Chervil seeds and grow this popular annual that is considered to be both a medicinal herb as well as a culinary herb. Chervil, also known as French Parsley, is also an attractive plant with finely-divided, fern-like leaves. It likes a position in the shade during the hottest part of the day. If it is positioned in full sun, the delicate foliage can suffer and become burned and bleached. Chervil French Parsley is fast growing and harvesting can be as soon as 8 weeks after planting the herb seeds. Some gardeners will sow the Chervil seeds in successive plantings to keep a constant supply of leaves.

For culinary use, both the roots and leaves are used. The French Parsley herb roots can be harvested in mid-summer and stored like a potato for later use in soups. The leaves are the most widely-used and have an anise-parsley flavor. Chervil leaves are a great addition to salads and soups. The flavor lends itself well to fish, crab, meats, vegetables and sauces. Chervil also had a therapeutic property being used as a diuretic and for skin ailments.

How To Grow Chervil From Seed: Sow Chervil seeds directly in prepared seedbeds. Sow the herb seeds shallowly and barley cover. Keep the French Parsley herb seeds moist until germination. Chervil herb plants need moisture, but it is best to let them dry out in-between waterings. Keep the flowers cut to encourage leaf growth, and harvest often, picking the outside leaves and allowing the younger leaves to grow. Harvest the leaves when the flavor is the best which is just before flowering and in cooler weather.

French Parsley

How to Grow

Chervil seeds are best sown directly outdoors after all frost danger has passed: sow the seeds into prepared seedbeds in an area that receives partial shade. Cover the seeds with no more than 1/4 inch of soil. Keep the seeds moist until germination, which will occur in 1-2 weeks under proper conditions. When watering established plants, it is best to allow the soil to dry out in between waterings. Keep the flowers cut to encourage leaf growth, and harvest often, picking the outside leaves and allowing the younger leaves to grow. Harvest the leaves when the flavor is the best which is just before flowering and in cooler weather.

• Environment: partial shade
• Soil: loamy w' pH 6.1-7.5
• Sowing rate: 15-20 seeds per plant

Plant Specifications

Chervil is an annual culinary and medicinal herb that grows in USDA zones 3 through 8. Its leaves are the most widely used and have a flavor similar to anise and parsley. It has also been used in traditional medicine for skin ailments and as a diuretic.

• Bloom color: white
• Bloom season: mid summer
• Plant height: 8-16 inches