Image Credit:
Vlad Antonov
Botanical Name
Allium schoenoprasum, A. tuberosum
Life Cycle
Toxicity
Sun Exposure
Water Needs
Height
Spread
Bloom Time
Plant Type
Planting
Where to Plant Chives
Chives grow best in full sun, though they will tolerate light shade. Ideally, the soil should be moist, fertile, and well-draining. Before planting, incorporate 4 to 6 inches of well-composted organic matter. Work compost into the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. (Read more about soil amendments and preparing the soil for planting.)
When to Plant Chives
- Chives are considered a cool-season crop, meaning they grow best in the spring and fall. The harsher temperatures of summer usually cause them to go dormant until cool weather arrives again.
- For a head start in colder regions, start chive seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost. (See local frost dates.) Transplants need good growth before being set in the garden.
- Outdoors, sow seeds as soon as the soil is workable in the spring. They can take a few weeks to germinate, so don’t panic! For the best germination and growth, the temperature of the soil should be between 60º and 70ºF (15º and 21ºC).
- Plant transplants outdoors once the threat of frost has passed.
How to Plant Chives
- Sow seeds about 2 inches apart and no more than ¼ inch deep. Cover with a thin layer of soil.
- Once seedlings emerge, thin them so that plants are spaced between 4 and 6 inches apart in all directions.
Harvesting
How to Harvest Chives
- Begin harvesting chive leaves about 30 days after you transplant or 60 days after seeding.
- Be sure to cut the leaves down to the base when harvesting (within 1 to 2 inches of the soil).
- Harvest 3 to 4 times during the first year. In subsequent years, cut plants back monthly.
- The chive plant will flower in late spring or early summer. The flowers are edible and taste best just after they have opened—they should look full and bright.
How to Store Chives
- Use chives when they’re fresh or frozen (freeze the leaves in an airtight bag). Dried chives lose their flavor.
- Store chives in a cool place in a resealable container.
Types
The two species of chives commonly grown in home gardens are common chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and garlic chives (A. tuberosum):
- Common chives consist of clumps of small, slender bulbs that produce thin, tubular, blue-green leaves reaching 10-15 inches in height. The edible, flavorful flowers may be white, pink, purple, or red, depending on the variety. They can be grown in Zones 3 to 9.
- Garlic chives (also called Chinese chives) look similar to common chives, but their leaves are flatter, greener, and get to be about 20 inches in height. As their name suggests, their leaves have a mild garlic flavor (bulbs are more intense). Flowers are white and are larger and less densely clustered than those of common chives. Garlic chives are not quite as cold-hardy as common chives, so they are recommended for Zones 4 to 9.
More Like This
I've got chive planted in a 12" long rectangular metal pot with holes which hangs on my chain link fence and is partly shaded by a few leaves of my peony tree. That pot of chives has been productive for over 20 years ... it just keeps on giving. I deadhead the flowers once they are done blooming and I carefully also pull out that tough stem that is attached to them. I have never cut them and just let them die off naturally. I usually pull out any dried chive matter in late fall. These chives have survived both extremely hot summers and bad New Jersey winters. They were given to my family from my Mom's BFF Helen Weaver and I like to think that she is the one keeping them alive and healthy !!!
What sweet memories!!
I was just thanking God for letting me find some chives growing, of all places, in my front yard flower beds. I have neglected my back yard garden, and it is overgrown with weeds because, as a widow, I don't need a huge garden, and somewhere in there are my chives (probably all dead now). So that's why I was giving thanks to my God, who watches over me, because I was surprised to find them. I transplanted them into a container to better care for them.
You mention that chives repel aphids, but anyone who has grown chives knows that they (as well as other allium plants) are a magnet for black aphids. I think it is a mistake to not note aphids as a common pest of chives and tout chives, instead, as a panacea for aphids. Chives are still worth growing, but novices should be forewarned. (I get rid of the aphids simply by running the allium blades between my fingers and squashing them. They can then easily be washed off with a gentle stream of water.)
Do chives have an aroma when they are growing? I love the smell of “wild onions”, what I call them anyway. Was wondering if chives are similar?
Hi Gary,
The strength of the scent varies from one variety to the next, but chives do have an "oniony" aroma while growing.
Cheers,
Joe Bills
Associate Editor
OFA
I pick the blossoms at their peak and put them in a jar with vinegar. It makes a wonderful flavored vinegar and looks beautiful. I give them as gifts.
Can I grow chives on a hill where the soil is dry and not deep. What do I need to insure the seeds do well. Do I need to add any fertilizer when planting
Dear Marjory,
Thanks for your note. Chives are a wonderful perennial herb once established. The spot you describe could support chives if you keep it watered. Chives like full sun best, and moist well-draining soil. To start from seeds, we recommend starting chive seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost. (See local frost dates.) Transplants need good growth before being set in the garden. If you are sowing outdoors, do so as soon as soil is workable; they can take a few weeks to germinate, and prefer soil temperature to be between 60º and 70ºF to do so.
—The Editors
Can I plant chives in a container and bring inside in the fall?
Yes I took am curious if you can bring potted chives in for winter
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