AllotMe

GROWING GUIDES

Chives

Chives

Herbs

Easy

calendar_icon

Planting Schedule

Month by month

Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Harvest

Sow Seeds Indoors

Sow seeds indoors from February to March. Scatter on surface and cover lightly with vermiculite.

Outdoors

Sow direct or plant out from March to May. Chives grow in almost any soil and tolerate partial shade.

Harvest

Snip leaves to 2cm above the soil with scissors from April to November. Cut-and-come-again — they regrow quickly.

Month by month

Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Harvest

How to Sow

  • Sow seeds on the surface of moist compost and cover lightly
  • Keep at 15-20°C until germination (7-14 days)
  • Plant out in clumps of 5-6 seedlings, 20-30cm apart
  • Choose any spot — chives tolerate sun, partial shade, and most soils
  • Alternatively, divide existing clumps in spring or autumn

Plant Care

  • Water in dry weather but chives are generally undemanding
  • Cut back to ground level after flowering to encourage a fresh flush of leaves
  • Divide clumps every 2-3 years in spring to keep them productive
  • Feed with a general-purpose fertiliser in spring
  • The purple flowers are edible and look beautiful in salads

AllotMe’s Tips

  • Chives are brilliant companion plants — their strong smell deters aphids and carrot fly when planted nearby
  • Grow a pot on your kitchen windowsill for year-round supply
  • Garlic chives (Chinese chives) have a mild garlic flavour and flat leaves — try both varieties

Delete Tip?

This can't be undone and it will be removed from the category page and from AllotMe search results.
Share your instagram handle to let people follow more of your tips!

Our community's top tips on growing Chives

No tips have been shared yet :(