A member of the onion family, chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are low-maintenance plants known for their culinary and ornamental qualities. Their green leaves and purple flowers are edible and have a mild onion flavor that can be used to flavor a variety of dishes. Chives can be grown outside, where they offer pest-repelling properties, or indoors as a windowsill herb. To ensure a bountiful harvest year after year, we spoke to gardening experts who shared their tips for growing chives.
When to Plant Chives
Chives are a cool-season crop, meaning they grow best when temperatures are mild. “Chives can either be planted in mid-spring or in mid-fall,” says Adrienne Roethling, private estate gardener and former garden director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden. You can also start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before your area’s last frost date. Once the seeds germinate and grow, they can be transplanted into bigger containers and grown indoors or planted outside once the threat of frost has passed.
Planting Chives Outdoors
There are two ways to start chives—by seed or by clumps, says Susan Detrick, master gardener coordinator at Penn State Extension, Monroe and Pike Counties. No matter the method you choose, wait to plant chives outdoors until after your area’s last frost date.
- Choose a site that gets six to eight hours of sunlight per day and has well-draining soil with a pH of six to seven.
- Planting by seed: Prepare soil by adding some organic matter. Sprinkle seeds over the soil about 1 inch apart. Cover the seeds with a 1/4 inch of soil.
- Planting by clumps: Gently brush off dirt on the bulbs. Plant clumps 6 inches apart with the pointy end facing up. Cover with soil and mulch.
- Water the seeds or clumps as needed, being careful not to overwater.
Planting Chives Inside
Chives love growing in pots, making this plant an excellent option for an indoor herb garden. Here’s how Detrick says to plant chives in containers both by seed and by clumps.
- Sterilize containers by cleaning with soapy water, then soaking the container in a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water for 10 minutes. Rinse well.
- Choose a sunny spot inside that gets six to eight hours of sun exposure.
- Fill a 6-inch deep container with potting soil. Make sure the container has drainage holes.
- By seed: Direct sow seeds over the soil about 1 inch apart. Cover the seeds with a 1/4 inch of soil.
- By clumps: Gently brush off dirt on the bulbs. Plant each clump 6 inches apart with the pointy end facing up. Cover with soil.
- Water the seeds or clumps as needed, being careful not to overwater.
How to Care for Chives
Chives are low-maintenance plants that generally have the same care needs whether they’re grown indoors or outside.
Sunlight
Chives grow best in full sun and need at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily in order to thrive. Indoors, place them in a south-facing window for maximum sunlight exposure.
Soil
These plants can grow in many soil types as long as the soil is well-drained, says Detrick, adding that these plants grow best in soil with a pH of 6 to 7. If you don’t know the pH of your soil, a soil test is recommended.
Water
Chives retain water well, so they don’t need to be watered as often as some other plants, says Adrienne Roethling, private estate gardener and former garden director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden. Check the soil regularly and water when the top inch feels dry to the touch.
Temperature
Known for being a hardy herb, chives will grow in hardiness zones 3 to 9, says Roethling. That said, these plants prefer cooler environments and typically go dormant during summer.
Fertilizer
If the soil is healthy and contains organic matter, fertilizer isn’t needed, says Detrick. However, if your soil needs a boost, Roethling recommends fertilizing with Bulb-tone fertilizer once a year. “It’s an organic product that slowly works its way into the soil,” she says.
How to Harvest Chives
You can harvest chives when the leaves are long enough to eat or use in cooking. Using sharp pruners or scissors, cut the leaves about 2 inches above the base of the plant as needed. Harvesting regularly encourages plant growth.
How to Divide Chives
Over time, chives will grow into large clumps from the small clumps you planted. You will need to divide these clumps every two to three years to prevent overcrowding. The best time to do this is during spring, says Detrick. To do so, carefully dig up the chives and gently separate the clumps into smaller sections. Each section should have a few bulbs and leaves. Once divided, replant the bulbs with the pointy side facing up. Space each new clump 6 inches apart. Cover with soil and water well.
Common Problems With Chives
Chives are relatively disease and pest-resistant, but there are some issues you may run into when caring for this plant.
Allium Leafminer
Like other alliums, chives are susceptible to allium leafminer. “The first sign of an allium leafminer infestation is a linear series of round wounds on the leaves. The leaves may also become wavy, curled, or distorted,” says Detrick. “It’s the larvae of the allium leafminer that damages the leaves. For established clumps of chives, covering them with row cover cloth will limit the leafminer from laying eggs on the leaves.”
Dampening Off
Dampening off is a plant disease that’s caused by soil-borne fungi. It can cause seedlings to collapse and decay, says Detrick. Good sanitation practices, like cleaning your gardening tools and containers, can avoid this.
Black Aphids
Chives and other members of the onion family are prone to black aphids. “Horticulture oil, a heavy blast of water, predators such as ladybugs, and hand removal will help but not totally eradicate the aphids,” says Roethling. “Consider a row cover when planting chives and keep them covered with a fine white mesh cloth all summer.”
Root Rot
Chives do not like wet feet. Overwatering and poor soil drainage will lead to root rot, says Roethling. Only water chives when the soil is dry to the touch and add compost or soil amendments to improve drainage. If planted outside, water chives during the earliest part of the day so the leaves have time to dry before nightfall, says Roethling.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew can also be a problem in high humidity regions. “Find a location with good air flow and do not crowd the chives with other leafy vegetables,” says Roethling. “It is OK to place them near each other, but crowding paired with humidity will lead to mildew.”
