How to Grow Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
Chives are a versatile herb belonging to the onion family, prized for their mild oniony flavor that brightens salads and dishes. Gardeners grow these hardy perennials not only for culinary uses but also because they attract beneficial insects while tolerating light frosts.
📷 Wikipedia: ChivesStarting Chives: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
You can start seeds indoors four weeks before the last frost and transplant seedlings outdoors once all danger of hard frost has passed.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your soil by ensuring it is loose and amended with organic matter to maintain a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Sow seeds directly outdoors or start indoors two to six weeks before the last spring frost, as this cool-season crop tolerates early cold. Press seeds lightly into the surface without covering them deeply, then keep the soil consistently moist until germination occurs within seven to fourteen days.
Space plants eight to twelve inches apart to ensure proper air circulation and growth. While chives generally do not require support or trellising, you can stake tall varieties if wind is a concern. Provide moderate watering to keep the soil evenly moist but avoid waterlogging. Apply a light layer of mulch in spring to retain moisture and suppress weeds, feeding lightly only if growth slows significantly.
Watch for onion thrips or aphids, which can be managed by spraying with insecticidal soap or introducing ladybugs. Fungal issues like leaf spot are prevented by ensuring good airflow and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest leaves once they reach maturity after sixty to ninety days from sowing; simply snip the green tops as needed without cutting down to the base.
When to Plant Chives
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | August – September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | August – September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | July – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | June – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | April – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | March – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | March – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | March – December |
