Growing Chives, also Garden chives

Allium schoenoprasum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S       S          
        T     T        
      P P              

(Best months for growing Chives in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 5 cm apart
  • Harvest in 7-11 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots, Tomatoes, Parsley, Apples
  • Chive flowers (foreground)

Grass-like leaves in clumps. Likes full sun but not too dry.

Chives are a perennial but die down in winter. You can dig up a small clump to pot up for indoor use in winter.

Remove flowers to encourage a continuous supply of leaves.

If weeding gets away from you, you can easily distinguish chives from grass because chives have a hollow leaf stem and onion smell.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Chives

Use raw in salads or as a mild onion flavour in cooked dishes.

Your comments and tips

04 Nov 12, (USA - Zone 5b climate)
How far do you cut the flowers on the chives.
03 Oct 23, Robert (USA - Zone 7a climate)
If I plant in October when will they be ready to harvest and once they die out in the winter will they grow again in the spring?
08 Oct 23, (USA - Zone 7a climate)
They will be ready to harvest 7-11 weeks later, so in December/January The roots are still alive and they will begin new growth next spring.
25 Sep 24, Nicholl (Canada - Zone 4b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Will chives come back the next year if planted in a raised garden bed?

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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