Growing Chives: Perennial Herb for Flavor and Flowers

Chives are a perennial onion-family member with beautiful purple flowers. Cool-season, cold-tolerant, planted early spring.

Mindful planting: flowers left to ripen scatter seeds and take over. But easy to dig and relocate if overwhelming.

Planting

• Full sun preferred.
• Soil: moist, fertile, rich, well-draining. Pre-plant: incorporate 4–6 inches compost. Apply 2–3 tbsp 16-16-8 fertilizer per sq ft. Work compost/fertilizer 6–8 inches deep.
• Head start: seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost. Transplants need good growth before garden set.
• Direct sow: as soon as soil workable in spring. Best growth at 60–70°F soil.
• Plant ¼ inch deep, final spacing 4–6 inches all directions.

Care

• Consistent watering all season for high yields. Moisten thoroughly.
• Mulch to conserve moisture, suppress weeds.
• For production: side-dress May and July with 1 tsp 21-0-0 per sq ft.
• Mature plants need minimal care.
• Remove flowers after bloom to prevent seed spread.
• Plants reach 12–24 inches tall, spread ~1 ft.
• Divide every 3–4 years in spring. Divided chives more productive. Allow weeks of growth before harvesting divisions.

Pests and Diseases

• Bulb rots (soilborne fungi)
• White rot
• Mildew
• Rust
• Smut
• Fungal leaf spots (purple blotch, gray mold)
• Onion fly
• Thrips

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest 30 days post-transplant or 60 days post-seeding.
• Cut to base (1–2 inches above soil).
• Year 1: 3–4 harvests. Later: monthly cuts.
• Flowers in May/June (edible).
• Use fresh or frozen (airtight bag). Dried loses flavor.
• Store cool in resealable container.

Recommended Varieties

• Garlic chives – mild garlic flavor

Wit & Wisdom

• Plant chives near carrots in garden.
• Bunches hung in home historically warded off disease/evil. More herbal folklore.
• Chives symbolize usefulness. More plant symbolism.

Recipes

• Caramelized Onion and Chive Sauce
• Chive Rollups with Herb Cream Cheese Dip
• Chive Mashed Potatoes