How To Grow Chervil From Seeds (Easy Growers Guide)

Learning how to grow chervil from seeds is a breeze. They are very low-maintenance plants that will thrive in most areas of the United States.

Growing Chervil is one of the easiest herb gardens to maintain. In fact, it can be grown in a window box in the shade during the summer months and then transferred to a sunny window facing the east or west during the colder winter months.

Chervil will also do well in pots on a patio outside during the warmer months of the year as long as you don’t have a lot of weeds in your flower bed.

The History of Chervil

History of Chervil Herb is a traditional folk remedy that originated in France. It is a herb that has its roots in the root of an evergreen shrub, Chervil, and it was used to treat a number of ailments by the French people during the Middle Ages.

The name Chervil comes from the Latin “chervila” which means green or leafy, and “vil” meaning leaf. The herb is used to this day in France and other European countries for a variety of illnesses and to help alleviate pain, inflammation, and other symptoms. It is often consumed in the form of herbal tea or as a pill.

The history of Chervil is rich with legend and lore. In addition to being used as a medicinal herb, the herb was also said to have many magical qualities and powers.

Medicinal Uses of Chervil

Medically, Chervil is recognized to have many health-enhancing benefits. The bark of the plant has long been used by the Aztecs as a treatment for skin ailments.

Modern science has validated the medicinal uses of Chervil, discovering that the powerful antioxidants found in chervil reduce the risk of heart disease, reduce the aging process, delay aging effects, improve memory, prevent skin damage, and prevent certain cancers.

These benefits extend far beyond skin care. Many studies have found that medical applications of chervil have been effective in combating a number of ailments, as well as serious, diseases, such as influenza, tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, influenza syndrome, herpes, genital herpes, HIV, and hepatitis.

Chervil has numerous other medicinal uses. It has been proven to reduce fever, regulate blood pressure, ease aches and pains, to treat anxiety, ease stomach problems, treat flatulence, treat epilepsy, reduce swelling and inflammation, aid in the recovery from wounds, and treat various skin conditions including psoriasis, acne, eczema, boils, blisters, and more.

It is also believed to increase stamina and strength. Its effects on the circulatory system make it valuable in treating low blood pressure. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it useful for treating arthritis, infections, neuralgia, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, rheumatism, tendonitis, etc.

Germinating Chervil Seeds

What is the best way to germinate seeds indoors? If you are a first time gardener looking for an easy way to start growing your Chervil plants from seed, listen closely to this article.

You’ll discover some useful information that can help you to germinate seeds, in the fastest way possible. These seeds can be planted in the spring, and they are extremely easy to germinate.

What I have found is that it is important to make sure you have a warm window during the fall and winter months, as this is when seed germination is the easiest. But seeds do need a warm soil temperature to germinate faster.

Some people mistakenly think that seeds need to have their seeds germinate in a completely dark and dry environment, but that’s not true at all.

I find that I have the best success using a seed starter tray combined with a high quality seedling mix. Both these products are available on Amazon.

Fill the seed starter trays with sterilized seed mix, and even them out. Seeds should be planted in 1/4” inches of depth into the seed mix.

Fill up a spray bottle with water and spray the soil with some water.

Spray the soil until moist, do not over water. Next cover the seed tray with the provided lid. Place the tray in a warm sunny area. Once the seedlings are about 3″ long, you can then transplant them to pots, planters or even your outdoor garden.

Selecting a Pot or Planter

When you are growing chervil in pots, the main consideration will be drainage. If you are planning on providing drainage, then you will have to select pots that have holes at the bottom, as this allows moisture to drain away from the roots.

The smallest pots you can get are usually about six inches in diameter, but I would recommend at least an 8 – 10″ inch pot size. The extra space will allow more air to move through the root system. This will give you a nice full plant.  I like to use this Classic Garden Planter and this premium soil from FoxFarm when growing any herbs. The planters give excellent drainage and are very durable and look great indoors and outdoors. They have many size and color variations to choose from. Take a look at them on Amazon.

Soil Needed

Choosing the best soil for your chervil herb plants is a matter of determining what your needs are, the soil you need to use will have to be one that is lightly acidic and drains well.

Root rot and other diseases may destroy your plants if the soil is too hard, but it will also kill the plants if the water doesn’t drain out of the soil. My general rule of thumb is that if the soil is not draining, it is not the right soil for your plants.

Proper Watering

If you have never had the pleasure of growing anything, then it can be hard to know how to water the chervil herb plant. If you have had experience with this type of plants before, then you will probably know what to expect when you receive a water supply. You will probably just have to water it more often and keep an eye on the soil. It really does not take much for this herb to thrive in any garden, even one as large as a garden filled with herbs.

Chervil like many herbs needs to be watered regularly in the initial stages of growth. I would recommend checking the soil daily, just to make sure that it doesn’t dry out. You also want to be careful not to overwater chervil because it doesn’t like soggy soil or moist environments.

An easy way to check the moisture of your soil is by simply sticking your finger in the soil about 2″ inches and if it feels dry add water. Another option is to purchase a soil moisture meter online or at your local gardening center.

Sunlight Requirements

The sunlight requirements for chervil plant are pretty basic. These plants can grow in a variety of conditions, but they do well in an area that gets moderate to full sunlight throughout the day, especially from April to October. The amount of light it needs may vary depending on where you live, but generally it needs indirect light during the daytime.

They can grow in full sun to partial shade, depending on their location and exposure. They are happiest in a moderately shaded area, up to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and will do their best work when it gets about half way through the season.

Pruning

First, you have to understand that pruning is a necessary part of a plant’s life cycle. It is like anything else, if we don’t do it regularly, then we can hurt it or even kill it. This applies to any plant, not just chervil.

When we prune a plant, we are helping it grow by removing some of its natural enemies such as weedy foliage, and weeds. We are also helping the plant to get stronger, and we may do this by cutting back some of its branches.

One of the first things that beginners should know when learning how to prune a plant is that they should prune in the direction of the growth rather than towards the stem or the leaves. This is especially true when it comes to younger stems, although it will also work for older plants as well.

If a stem grows horizontally towards the middle of a pot, it is called a cut stem, and if it grows horizontally away from the middle it is called a distal stem. It is best to remember this in order to make sure that you are cutting off only what you need and not removing more than is necessary.

Harvesting

If you are looking to harvest the leaves, you can use a sharp knife to prune off the center nodes or bracts. Remove all the leaves and stems except for the ones nearest the trunk. This is the part that will produce the most flavor.

Next, you’ll need to thin out the rest of the herb. This can be done by cutting away some stem and leaves. This is done by taking scissors and cutting away pieces about one inch long at a time. Then, you can use the knives to prune the remaining part. Be sure not to cut too far into the heart of the plant. If you do, it can cause wilting and the plant may die.

If you plan on harvesting the leaves, then you’ll need to do it when they are about half the size of the original blade. How to prune chervil herb doesn’t have to be a big job for someone with the right tools. Follow these steps and soon you’ll find the joy of harvesting this herb.

Culinary Uses

Chervil is an aromatic French herb that has been used in cuisines all over the world. In fact, it is considered as the national hero of France and the recipes it is usually included in are those of the most appetizing dishes. It has a very pungent and spicy flavor which makes it a great complement to seafood, beef, and chicken dishes.

Health Benefits

This is one of the most popular herbal herbs used in the world because it has several health benefits. It is one of the earliest herbs to be used in cooking and for medicinal purposes and is well-known for its ability to fight various illnesses such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, indigestion, menstruation, flatulence, stomach flu, and yeast infections.

For its excellent medicinal properties, the herb is cultivated in coastal areas and is grown for its edible parts only. One of the great chervil herb health benefits is that the fruit has high contents of antioxidants which help protect the body against free radicals that cause cellular damage.

Another great chervil health benefit is that this herb is an effective remedy against gastroenteritis. The anti-fungal property of chervil acts as a potent antidote to various kinds of infections.