Chives

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Plant out around your last spring frost. Space plants 8 in (20 cm) apart.

Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Optimal Transplant (Division)

From a plantRecommended from a plant
  1. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  2. First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established

Optimal Indoor Start

From seedRecommended from seed
  1. Start indoors8 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. Begin hardening off1 week before your last spring frost
  3. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  4. First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established

Optimal Transplant

From seed
  1. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  2. First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established

Optimal Direct Sow

From seed
  1. Sow outdoors2 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established

Growing chives

Spacing in the row
8 in (20 cm)
Between rows
12 in (30 cm)
Planting depth
1/4 inch
Sun
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, rich, loamy soil
Germination
7-14 days at 60-70°F
Harvest season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Mature height
12-18 inches
Hardy to
USDA zone 3
Life cycle
Perennial

Sow seeds shallowly, 1/4 inch deep, maintaining consistent moisture for optimal germination.

Watering. Maintain consistent soil moisture, particularly during dry periods. Avoid waterlogging.

Neighbours

The companion chart →

Grows well beside

Keep apart from

Feeding

Seedlings
Light liquid feed every two weeks after true leaves appear to support initial growth.
Growing
Apply a balanced granular fertilizer or a layer of compost in early spring.
Flowering and fruiting
Not critical; nutrient focus should remain on foliage production.
How often
Once a year, in early spring, for established plants.
Note
Mulching with aged compost around established clumps helps retain moisture and provides slow-release nutrients.

Your chives, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add chives to your planting calendar →

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