When to Plant Chervil in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
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This Chervil guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Mar
- Days to harvest
- 60 days
- Sun
- Part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.0
Chervil is a delicate cool season herb with a mild aniseed and parsley flavour. It also goes by French parsley. It likes part shade and moist, rich soil. It dislikes heat and bolts to flower quickly in warm weather.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate
- Jan D
- Feb D
- Mar D
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep D
- Oct D
- Nov D
- Dec D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Chervil included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Chervil in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Well drained soil enriched with plenty of organic matter such as compost or aged manure (The Seed Collection). Green Harvest says rich, moist soil.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 5.5-7.0
- Sunlight
- Sun, part sun or shade (The Seed Collection). Green Harvest says partial shade is best.
- Spacing
- 30cm apart
- Watering
- Water deeply when the soil is dry about 5 cm down, in the early morning or late afternoon. Avoid wetting the leaves. Keep the soil moist during germination (The Seed Collection). Moisture also helps prevent bolting (Green Harvest).
- Good companions
- Lettuce, Tomato, Radish, Dill, Cabbage
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Chervil
Recommended Varieties
- Chervil
Key Challenges
- Slugs and snails
- Wet foliage
Pro Tips
- Sow where it will grow
- Water the base only
Pests and problems for Chervil in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Chervil
When ready: Leaves are ready about 60 to 70 days after sowing (The Seed Collection). Green Harvest says 30 to 40 days.
How to harvest: Pinch off the outer leaves as needed, leaving some on the plant. Eat soon after harvest or keep it short term in a perforated plastic bag in the fridge (The Seed Collection).
Storing and preserving chervil
How to keep it
- Use fresh. Eat soon after harvest or keep in a perforated bag in the fridge for a short time (The Seed Collection).
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Chervil
When do you plant chervil in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): May to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Sep
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): May to Jul
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
Can you grow chervil all year round in Melbourne?
No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Chervil in Melbourne?
Seed Collection cool chart: September to March. A cool season crop that thrives in cool conditions (Green Harvest).
What soil temperature do Chervil need?
Chervil germinate best when soil temperature is between 12°C and 20°C.
How do I know when Chervil are ready to harvest?
Leaves are ready about 60 to 70 days after sowing (The Seed Collection). Green Harvest says 30 to 40 days.
What are the best Chervil varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Chervil.
What grows well with Chervil?
Good companion plants for Chervil include: Lettuce, Tomato, Radish, Dill, Cabbage.
Are chervil salt tolerant?
Only a little. Chervil are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.