Anyone who plants herbs in the garden cannot avoid chervil, the popular kitchen spice. In addition to the taste, the healing effect should also be mentioned.
Chervil (Anthriscus) is valued not only for its taste, reminiscent of aniseed and fennel, but also for its medicinal properties. As one of the first herbs to be harvested in the herb garden, chervil is recommended for he althy and fresh spring cuisine. The plant is easy to grow and the herb can even be cultivated successfully on the windowsill.
Origin and Distribution
The chervil belongs to the umbelliferae family. Garden chervil or Kirbele are other common names for the popular kitchen herb. In its wild form, the real chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) comes from the Caucasus and southern Europe. It is believed that the Romans introduced the herb across the Alps. Since then, the plant has also been successfully cultivated in our latitudes.
Chervil medicinal effect
Chervil has found its way into German monastery gardens since the Middle Ages. Charlemagne ordered the sowing of chervil on his estates as early as the end of the 8th century. At the beginning of the 9th century, on the Bodensee island of Reichenau, chervil was deliberately cultivated and administered to relieve pain and "blood flushes". The healing power of the plant is based on isoanethol, an essential oil that also gives chervil its anise-like taste. The herb also contains vitamin C, flavonoids, coumarins and bitter substances. Chervil can support the activity of the bladder and kidneys and have a blood pressure-regulating effect. The contained tannins have a digestive effect.
Plant chervil
➔ Find the right location
Cherbel is an annual. When choosing a location, you must note that the herb is not suitable as a mixed culture with other herbs or ornamental plants. Chervil thrives best in a partially shaded location. Full sun is also tolerated with sufficient water supply. However, the blazing midday sun should be avoided. In a sunny location, chervil will flower faster. This has an adverse effect on the seasoning power. Chervil thrives in beds, in tubs, in balcony boxes or in plant pots on theWindowsill.
Attention: Outdoor herb collectors have to be careful. Chervil can be confused with the highly toxic hemlock.
➔ Select the right substrate
Chervil is quite undemanding. A loose and slightly moist soil offers the best conditions for plant growth. Ordinary potting soil can be upgraded with sand and hummus. This prevents waterlogging from occurring. At the same time, the plant's nutrient requirements are met.
➔ Planting chervil - step by step
Cervil can be sown directly outdoors in early spring. As light germinators, the seeds are not covered with soil. The rows should be planted about ten centimeters apart.
» Tip: If chervil is sown between lettuce plants, it protects them from slugs and lice.
You can already harvest from May. Chervil is sown again in late summer. It can then be picked until the first frost. Ready-to-use chervil seeds are ideal for cultivation in the plant pot on the windowsill.
- Prepare beds in late autumn
- Enrich substrate with humus
- Remove roots, stones and weeds
- Mulch soil
- Draw rows of plants
- Sprinkle seeds thinly
- Do not cover seeds with soil
- Press seeds gently
- Water the soil carefully
In planters, it is advisable to create a drainage system so that the irrigation water can drain off better and there is no waterlogging. Before the earth is filled in, potsherds or gravel are placed on the bottom of the vessel.
Caring for chervil
➔ Pour chervil correctly
In order for Anthriscus to develop its aroma, chervil needs moist soil. Watering should not be forgotten, especially on hot days. If the upper layer of soil has dried slightly, it must be poured. The plant must not dry out. At the same time, make sure that there is no waterlogging. It is therefore better to give less water frequently instead of washing in the soil and then neglecting to water it.
➔ Fertilize chervil properly
Chervil is undemanding. The only important thing is the enrichment of the soil with humus. Then you can usually do without additional fertilization. A nutrient deficiency is indicated by delayed flowering and stunted growth. This can be the case if nutrient-poor potting soil was used.
If chervil grows in a tub, the nutrient supply is lower and itthe addition of organic long-term fertilizer is recommended. You can achieve a similar effect by adding fresh compost.
Propagating chervil
Chervil is propagated by seed and easily self-seeds if the flowers are left on the plants. In order to obtain seeds, the seed pods must be fully mature. Then the seeds can be removed. The seed is kept cool and dark over the winter. Sowing can then be carried out in March as described.
Recognize diseases and pests on chervil
If waterlogging occurs or cool, damp weather prevails, the chervil becomes vulnerable to diseases and pests.
The following types of damage can occur:
- Wither
If the leaves are wilting, a lack of liquid could be the cause. If the damage cannot be repaired, the opposite could be the case and the plant could suffer from waterlogging. This is usually indicated by a musty smell rising from the ground. While root rot occurs due to waterlogging, Verticillium wilt is a disease in its own right. Since neither commercially available fungicides nor household remedies are effective, the plants must be destroyed in order not to spread the infestation. - Rust fungus
Rust fungus can be recognized by reddish-brown spots on the leaf surface of chervil. There are over 150 genera of these fungi. In perennial plants, the pathogens overwinter in the cells. Combating annual crops is not profitable. Discard the plant to avoid infecting other plants. - Powdery mildew
A hot and dry location can promote powdery mildew infestation. The "fair weather fungus" leaves a mealy film on the leaves and shoots. A mixture of water and whey can help with a mild infestation. Heavily infested plants are discarded. - Aphids
Sowing later can prevent an infestation with aphids. In the case of a mild infestation, showering with water can promise success. Plants that are more affected can be treated with Neem preparations.
Harvesting and using chervil
The harvest can begin five to eight weeks after sowing. Leaves can be picked continuously until flowering begins. Then the seasoning is at its most intense. Chervil can also be eaten while it is in bloom, but with a loss of taste.
Cherbel is added freshly chopped to the dishes. Quark dishes, soups orRefine fish dishes. A fresh Easter soup made from chervil is particularly popular. In addition to sorrel, chives, parsley, cress, burnet pepper and borage, chervil is a component of the Frankfurt green sauce.
Cherbel - selected varieties
The targeted selection of varieties means that growing conditions and individual requirements can be met.
Vertissimo
This is a particularly high yielding variety. The smooth, lush green leaves and an intense anise aroma characterize the chervil Vertissimo.
Massa
Massa grows compactly and has smooth leaves. Cultivation is also possible on the windowsill during the winter months.
Fijne Krul
This hardy chervil has curly leaves. If sowed late, the plants can overwinter in the cold frame. Then you can already harvest in March.
Overwintering chervil
Chervil is an annual spice plant and therefore does not need any special winter protection. The culture on the windowsill is also possible during the winter months. However, the plants usually grow rather stunted and tend to dry up. If you want to use fresh chervil all year round, you can freeze the shoots harvested in summer.