How to grow chives
A hardy perennial; its purple flowers are edible and loved by bees.
Your chives dates
Companions
Keep apart from
Rotation and family
Chives belongs to the alliums (Amaryllidaceae). Shallow-rooted; onion white rot survives in soil for many years.
In a four-bed crop rotation it goes in the roots & alliums bed. Avoid growing it where any alliums grew in the last three years.
When to plant chives by zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow / plant out |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 6 – May 27 |
| 4 | Mar 17 – Mar 31 | Apr 28 – May 19 |
| 5 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Apr 16 – May 7 |
| 6 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – Apr 27 |
| 7 | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Mar 25 – Apr 15 |
| 8 | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Mar 12 – Apr 2 |
| 9 | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Feb 8 – Mar 1 |
| 10 | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | Jan 18 – Feb 8 |
Based on typical frost dates for each zone; b half-zones run about a week earlier in spring. Zones 11–13 are frost-free in most years.
Chives questions
When should I plant chives?
Plant chives outdoors 2 weeks before your last spring frost. Start seeds indoors about 8 weeks before your last frost.
How far apart should I plant chives?
About 4 inches apart, or 9 per square foot in a square foot garden.
What grows well with chives?
Traditional companions include carrot, parsley, strawberry, tomato. Keep it away from bush bean, pea.
How long does chives take to grow?
Chives is a perennial. A hardy perennial; its purple flowers are edible and loved by bees.