Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Turnip-rooted chervil is challenging to cultivate and is therefore not often found in home gardens, but
it is a prized delicacy among gourmets. Its taste does not reach its full potential until a few months
after it has lost its leaves. Raw, it is juicy and crispy with a hint of spiciness. Cooked it becomes some-
what mealy, has a smooth consistency, and tastes a bit like roasted chestnuts.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
• 15 to 20 well-formed plants
• support poles and string
POLLINATION NOTES
Turnip-rooted chervil is an outcrosser that is pollinated by insects, especially
hoverflies. Where it is naturalized, it is often found in wet habitats. Crossing with wild chervil is pos-
sible, though rare. Spatial isolation distance: 500 ft. (150 m).
GROWING FOR SEED
Cool conditions (50-65°F [10-18°C]) are required for turnip-rooted chervil to
germinate; it can be sown in autumn in zone 6, in which case seeds will germinate earlier than when
sown in the spring. Use the freshest seed you can, because even seed that is only a year old has sharply
reduced germination rates. When sowing in the spring, do so six to eight weeks before the last expec-
ted spring frost and cover loosely with finely sieved soil and brushwood (turnip-rooted chervil loves
partial shade and direct sun exposure should be avoided).
Turnip-rooted chervil roots are like small gourmet turnips, albeit of a different botanical family.
Important conditions for growing turnip-rooted chervil: uniform soil moisture until and throughout
the summer and a good, light soil (not particularly clayey). Under these conditions, turnip-rooted
chervil will reach a desirable size within about four months. It is not uncommon to come across forms
that grow to only about an inch (2 cm) long, but after several years of selection, we at Arche Noah are
growing turnip-rooted chervils 4-5 in. (10-12 cm) long. In areas with long winters, the use of row
cover is recommended. The roots actually finish growing around midsummer, but they are not ready to
eat until mid to late autumn and can be left in the ground or pulled and stored. Select the best (largest,
least branched) and most uniform roots for seed, and plant them out 12 in. (30 cm) between rows, 10
in. (25 cm) within the row, right away in zone 6 or above, in the spring in zone 5 or lower. They bolt
quickly in the spring and yield prolifically.
HARVEST
As for carrots.
