How to Grow Red Carpet Chives
Allium schoenoprasum 'Red Carpet'
Red Carpet Chives offer vibrant purple flowers atop aromatic green foliage, making them a stunning addition to borders or containers. Gardeners prize this variety for its ease of growth, drought tolerance once established, and resistance to most pests while providing fresh culinary herbs.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Red Carpet 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 or direct sow them during that same window, moving seedlings outdoors only after all danger of hard frost has passed.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. As a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors or start indoors two to six weeks before your last spring frost date. Press the tiny seeds lightly into the soil surface; do not cover them deeply as they need light for germination. Expect sprouting within fourteen to twenty-one days.
Space plants eight to twelve inches apart to ensure good air circulation. These chives require moderate watering but tolerate dry spells once established, so avoid overwatering. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Feed sparingly if growth seems slow, though they are generally low-maintenance perennials.
Watch for occasional aphids, which you can remove by hand or with a strong water spray; otherwise, this plant is very disease resistant. However, crown rot may occur in poorly drained soils, so ensure good drainage to prevent it. Harvest leaves and flowers seventy-five to ninety days after sowing when the foliage is lush and flavorful.
When to Plant Red Carpet 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 |
Companion Plants for Red Carpet Chives
✓ Good companions
May help prevent apple scab and deter aphids from fruit trees
Repels cabbage worms, aphids, and other brassica pests
Chives deter carrot rust flies and other soil pests
Provides pest protection without competing for nutrients
Chives deter aphids and may improve pepper growth and flavor
Natural pest deterrent against aphids and may reduce black spot disease
Helps repel slugs and aphids while potentially enhancing fruit flavor
Chives repel aphids and may improve tomato flavor and growth
✗ Keep away from
Alliums can inhibit asparagus growth and development
Alliums can inhibit nitrogen fixation and growth of legumes
Chives may stunt pea growth and interfere with nitrogen fixation
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
