Herb · Leafy / Soft Herb
Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
A cold-hardy perennial allium grown for its slender, mild-onion-flavoured leaves. Comes back reliably year after year and spreads slowly into a clump.
At a glance
Water
Medium
16–28 fl oz/wk
Light
Full sun
6–8 hrs/day
Space
Small
10 in
To maturity
80–90 days
Edible parts: Leaves, Flowers
Family: Allium
Includes onion, garlic, leek, and chives. Known for pungent, sulphur-rich compounds that give the group its characteristic smell and flavour.
Harvest
Snip leaves to about 2 inches above the base as needed; the plant regrows quickly for repeated harvests through the season.
Growing conditions
- Temperature
- 35–80 °F
- Soil pH
- 6–7
- Soil type
- Well-drained, sandy loam rich in organic matter
- Climate
- Cold-hardy perennial; dies back in winter and regrows from the base each spring.
- Growing season
- Direct-sow or divide established clumps in spring.
- Nitrogen
- Low (≈15–30 ppm)
- Humidity
- Medium (≈40–70 %)
- Planting unit
- Division
- Feeding schedule
- Light feeding in spring is enough for an established clump.
- Pest resistance
- High - largely trouble-free, and its scent is thought to help deter aphids on nearby plants
- Pruning
- Divide clumps every few years in spring to keep them vigorous; remove flower heads if leaf production is the priority.
Where it grows
- Container / PotIdeal— Does well in pots year-round; one of the easiest herbs to grow indoors or out.
- In-Ground GardenIdeal— Perennial in most climates; comes back year after year.
- Raised BedIdeal
- WindowsillIdeal— One of the most reliable herbs for a sunny windowsill.
- HydroponicPossible— Can work in media-bed or NFT systems.
- Vertical / TrellisNot recommended— No climbing or vining habit.
Companions & antagonists
- Beneficial: Carrot — Mutual entry for the carrot/chives pest-masking pairing - see carrot's companion notes.
- Antagonistic: Green Bean — Mutual entry for the allium/legume interference - see green bean's companion notes.
Sources
- Learn How To Plant, Grow and Harvest Chives — Gardenia.net
- Incompatible garden plants — Ask Extension