The Italian Gardener

Chervil has a subtle aniseed flavour and delicate lacy leaves and forms a natural partnership with eggs, fish, and chicken. Best added at the end of cooking to retain its delicate flavour. Chervil does not keep well, and so is an ideal candidate for the herb garden.

It is an attractive, hardy biennial plant, often best grown as an annual, reaching up to 50cm in height with large white flower heads. It should be directly sown at a depth of 1cm, or transplanted (20x20cm) in spring to early summer in well drained fertile soil in dappled shade rather than direct sun. Easy to grow and can be picked in 70 days or so. Self seeds freely.