Growing Chives, also Garden chives

Allium schoenoprasum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S S S S S          
      T T T T          
      P P P P          

(Best months for growing Chives in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 5 cm apart
  • Harvest in 7-11 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots, Tomatoes, Parsley, Apples

Your comments and tips

17 Jan 12, amanda (Australia - temperate climate)
my chives are 2 years old and healthy, however this past winter they went a bit dormant and still have not had a growth spurt you would expect with the warm/hot weather. they are in beds, i water daily, and use seasol. i also just put powerfeed pellets in the bed last week. how do i get my chives to perk up and be robust?
13 Jan 12, Narelle (Australia - temperate climate)
Even with an electric propagator, I can't get chive seeds to germinate! Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? I've tried with 3 different lots of seeds, different growing mediums and different seasons (except Winter).
14 Jan 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Narelle, perhaps your seed aren't viable, or your seeds are drying out too fast, or are too moist? I have germinated heaps of chives here in Adelaide merely by putting them into good quality seed raising mix and then into a mini hothouse (the type you get from bunnings) , then keeping the topsoil moist with daily sprays from a water spray gun. You have to be patient though, they take a little while to come up initially!!! Good luck :)
03 Apr 15, (Australia - temperate climate)
Seeds of garlic chives have a viablility of only 1 year. Don't bother with seeds over 1 year old.
05 Sep 11, Graham (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have planted garlic chives around my cool climate garden. Garlic chives have flat leaves about 20 cm tall and grows as clumps. It is hardy and easily broken into smaller clumps as spot fillers. I pull a leaf or two and chew them as I garden. The 8 month season finishes and the plant goes into winter dormacy. It seems hardly affected by frost and after drying to straw in winter, it comes back fresh and green as a background plant in any garden. the 40 cm tall flower stem and seed pod is easily clutched and pulled out as part of winter tidy up.
28 Jul 11, s craddock (Australia - temperate climate)
when you harvest chives to eat do you pull the bulb out or jus t ,cut the leaves thanks.
01 Mar 14, Ben (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Just cut the leaves
19 Mar 11, Elaine (Australia - tropical climate)
I've just started growing chives in peat pellets in a little 'greenhouse'. I think it took all of 4 days for them to germinate. We'll see how they go when I transfer them to the garden bed or pot.
16 May 13, John (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Elaine, peat pellets are great but don't forget that other great seedling container. Egg cartons!
30 Apr 10, Leigh (Australia - temperate climate)
I wanted to plant some chives seedlings now, is it too late? and should I wait until after winter?
Showing 21 - 30 of 34 comments

Hi Narelle, perhaps your seed aren't viable, or your seeds are drying out too fast, or are too moist? I have germinated heaps of chives here in Adelaide merely by putting them into good quality seed raising mix and then into a mini hothouse (the type you get from bunnings) , then keeping the topsoil moist with daily sprays from a water spray gun. You have to be patient though, they take a little while to come up initially!!! Good luck :)

- Anonymous

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.