herb · direct sow
Chervil: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating chervil a few times a week needs about 193 plants in ~145 sq ft, worth about $193 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$8.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 49 | ~37 sq ft | ~114 | ~$49 |
| 2 people | 97 | ~73 sq ft | ~224 | ~$97 |
| 4 people | 193 | ~145 sq ft | ~446 | ~$193 |
| 6 people | 289 | ~217 sq ft | ~667 | ~$289 |
Spacing
9" in row · 12" between rows
Sow depth
0.125"
Days to harvest
50 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 24 – May 29 | Jul 21 – Sep 1 |
| Zone 4 | Apr 19 – May 24 | Jul 31 – Sep 11 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 9 – May 14 | Aug 10 – Sep 21 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 30 – May 4 | Aug 20 – Oct 1 |
| Zone 7 | Mar 15 – Apr 19 | Aug 30 – Oct 11 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 4 – Apr 8 | Sep 20 – Nov 1 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 30 – Mar 6 | Oct 10 – Nov 21 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 10 – Feb 14 | Oct 20 – Dec 1 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Cut outer leaves at 4 inches, a few weeks after sowing, while lacy and pale green.
Don't wait: Bolts at the first heat; harvest hard when a stalk appears.
Yield
About 0.125 lbs per plant over ~8 productive weeks (~0.125 lb). Re-sow every ~14 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Carrot rust fly · Parsleyworm · Aphids, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with lettuce, lettuce, spinach, carrot.
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Chervil planting questions
How many chervil plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 49 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 193 plants, which takes around 145 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does chervil need?+
Space plants 9" apart in the row with 12" between rows. Sow 0.125" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant chervil?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing chervil worth it?+
At about $8.00/lb retail and ~0.125 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $193 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.