Chives Growing Guide

Allium schoenoprasum

Chives

Crop Rotation Group

Allium (Onion family) 

Soil

Average, well drained.

Position

Full sun to partial afternoon shade.

Frost tolerant

Very cold hardy. Becomes dormant in winter.

Feeding

If desired, drench with a liquid organic fertilizer in spring, after new growth appears, and again in late summer.

Spacing

Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 5" (15cm) with 9" (25cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Start with a purchased clump, or start seeds indoors and set out while the soil is still cool. Established clumps can be dug and divided in spring or in fall.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Established clumps produce beautiful pink flowers in late spring.

Harvesting

Use scissors to gather handfuls of leaves from early spring onward. Rinse, pat dry, and snip or cut into smaller pieces.

Troubleshooting

Can be invasive in cold climates. Snip off flowers to prevent unwanted reseeding.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Chives

Plant Diseases which Affect Chives