How to grow chives
Allium schoenoprasum · Amaryllidaceae · Herb
When to plant chives: the short answer
Start seeds indoors about 8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 2 weeks before it; sow outdoors about 2 weeks before the last frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 55 to 80°F, fastest near 70°F.
Zone 5: plant out Apr 9 – Apr 26. Zone 7: plant out Mar 15 – Apr 1. Zone 9: plant out Jan 30 – Feb 16. See every zone.
Chives is a cool-season herb in the Amaryllidaceae family, grown either from a direct sowing or from transplants. It wants full sun, though it tolerates a little afternoon shade in hot regions and steady, even moisture. From sowing to first pick is about 60–90 days. It is one of the toughest crops here, standing through hard frost and often improving for it.
Grower’s note: A hardy perennial - one clump comes back for years and can be divided every few springs. Shear the whole clump to 2 in for a fresh flush. The pink pom-pom flowers are edible.
Sowing
Sow about 0.25″ deep, into soil between 55–80°F — germination is quickest near 70°F. It is slow and often erratic to germinate (14–21 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 8 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 6″ along the row with roughly 8″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 4 per square foot. Allow at least 8″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 6″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
Chives is a perennial: you plant it once and it comes back and crops for years, so it does not fit the annual sow-and-harvest cycle. Give it a permanent, well-prepared spot out of the way of yearly digging. It takes one to three seasons to reach a full harvest — take little or nothing the first year while the plant establishes.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long chives take to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 60-90 days (9-13 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 14-21 days in soil around 70°F. It is a perennial, so once established it comes back and crops year after year.
When to plant chives
When to plant chives by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | - | Apr 24 – May 11 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | - | Apr 19 – May 6 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | - | Apr 9 – Apr 26 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | - | Mar 25 – Apr 11 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | - | Mar 15 – Apr 1 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | - | Feb 27 – Mar 16 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | - | Jan 30 – Feb 16 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | - | Jan 9 – Jan 26 |
Compare with the other herbs: when to plant herbs, by zone.
Companions
Carrot, Tomato, Bell Pepper
Bush Bean, Pole Bean, Pea
Common problems
Pests: onion thrips, aphids.
Diseases & disorders: downy mildew, rust.
Same family (Amaryllidaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant chives?
Start seeds indoors about 8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 2 weeks before it; sow outdoors about 2 weeks before the last frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 55 to 80°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long do chives take to grow?
About 60-90 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 14-21 days, fastest in soil around 70°F.
How much sun do chives need?
They need six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough.
What soil pH do chives need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant chives?
Space plants about 6 inches apart in rows 8 inches apart, or 4 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep.
Can I grow chives in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 6 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.