Growing Chives, also Garden chives

Allium schoenoprasum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

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

(Best months for growing Chives in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • 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 50°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 2 inches 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

21 Feb 24, Jen P (Australia - temperate climate)
I’ve been trying to grow chives in potting mix for vegetables since last August. Not one sprout. I’m hoping this round will yield something. I’ve grown them before and they grew like crazy. Using the seeds from what I grew.
26 Feb 24, Gary (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have found commercial potting mixes to be a dicy and unreliable investment. I think that some are contaminated. The more expensive the worse. They seem to cause low growth rate or no growth at all. Also you need to prepare the soil at least Three month ahead.
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.
08 Oct 22, Peter Chapman (Australia - temperate climate)
Chives. I have had my chives in the garden bed for about 6 months. They are growing well, but are prostrate, and falling all over the ground. I have grown chives successfully in previous gardens. Any idea why my chives are not upstanding?
17 Dec 22, Peter Chapman (Australia - temperate climate)
Disregard my last posting - Chives are now booming
18 Apr 20, amy (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
is garlic chives grown like chives? is it too late to grow garlic chives now is mid autumn?
20 Apr 20, Roland (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I grow garlic chives all year here in Central Florida. In the cooler months I grow them in full sun. In the hotter months I grow them in partial sun. They like water and are heavy feeders. Compost well and enjoy your garlic chives.
27 Jul 22, Deb (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Thanks that info is helpful!
13 Sep 18, Kathy Rielly (New Zealand - temperate climate)
can chives been grown in pots?
Showing 1 - 10 of 45 comments

Thanks Liz, put them in a pot today.

- Kathy Rielly

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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. GardenGrow 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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