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When to plant chives

Onion family, Allium schoenoprasum

Spacing
8″ apart
Per sq ft
9
To harvest
60–90 days
Frost
Hardy

Companion plants for chives

What to grow next to chives, what to keep away, and what is only tradition. Every pairing says how strong the evidence is.

Tradition only 8

On many charts, with little or no evidence.

  • Tomato Tradition Said to help Often said to repel pests by smell. Field research has not shown aromatic plants repel garden pests; they simply fit in the gaps.

    Source: Gardening with Companion Plants (EM128E), Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University Extension, 2023. Tomato guide

  • Cherry tomato Tradition Said to help Often said to repel pests by smell. Field research has not shown aromatic plants repel garden pests; they simply fit in the gaps.

    Source: Gardening with Companion Plants (EM128E), Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University Extension, 2023. Cherry tomato guide

  • Bell pepper Tradition Said to help Said to deter aphids by scent; aromatic repellents have not held up in field tests.

    Source: Gardening with Companion Plants (EM128E), Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University Extension, 2023. Bell pepper guide

  • Hot pepper Tradition Said to help Said to deter aphids by scent; aromatic repellents have not held up in field tests.

    Source: Gardening with Companion Plants (EM128E), Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University Extension, 2023. Hot pepper guide

  • Carrot Tradition Said to help Said to improve carrot flavor. No evidence.

    Carrot guide

  • Strawberry Tradition Said to help Traditional pairing; no evidence.

    Strawberry guide

  • Lettuce Tradition Said to help Said to keep aphids off lettuce. Aphid repellence by scent has not been shown.

    Lettuce guide

  • Red leaf lettuce Tradition Said to help Said to keep aphids off lettuce. Aphid repellence by scent has not been shown.

    Red leaf lettuce guide

Studied Field or lab research shows an effect, at least under some conditions.
Mixed Some studies find an effect, others don’t, or it only works in a narrow way.
Practical Explained by light, space, timing, support or a shared pest or disease.
Tradition Widely repeated, but with little or no evidence behind it.

See every pairing side by side in the companion planting chart, or try them in a bed with the garden planner.

When to plant chives by city

Start chives indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost, plant them out up to 2 weeks before your last frost. Here is what that means for 2027 in cities across the US, using each city’s average frost dates (NOAA 1991–2020). Pick the city with the climate most like yours, or enter your ZIP code above.

City Last frost Start indoors Plant out
Seattle, WA (9a) Mar 13 Jan 16–30 Feb 27 – Mar 13
Portland, OR (8b) Feb 25 Dec 31 – Jan 14 Feb 11–25
Sacramento, CA (9b) Jan 12 Nov 17 – Dec 1 Dec 29 – Jan 12
Phoenix, AZ (10a) Jan 5 Nov 10–24 Dec 22 – Jan 5
Salt Lake City, UT (7b) Mar 31 Feb 3–17 Mar 17–31
Denver, CO (6a) Apr 30 Mar 5–19 Apr 16–30
Dallas, TX (8b) Mar 2 Jan 5–19 Feb 16 – Mar 2
Minneapolis, MN (5a) Apr 23 Feb 26 – Mar 12 Apr 9–23
Kansas City, MO (6b) Apr 4 Feb 7–21 Mar 21 – Apr 4
Chicago, IL (6b) Apr 10 Feb 13–27 Mar 27 – Apr 10
Columbus, OH (6b) Apr 20 Feb 23 – Mar 9 Apr 6–20
Nashville, TN (7b) Apr 1 Feb 4–18 Mar 18 – Apr 1
Atlanta, GA (8a) Mar 24 Jan 27 – Feb 10 Mar 10–24
Raleigh, NC (8a) Mar 28 Jan 31 – Feb 14 Mar 14–28
Philadelphia, PA (7b) Mar 30 Feb 2–16 Mar 16–30
Boston, MA (7a) Apr 4 Feb 7–21 Mar 21 – Apr 4

In frost-free parts of Florida, southern California and the Gulf Coast, timing is about heat instead: grow chives from fall through winter.

Chives spacing

In a square-foot bed, plant 9 per square foot. In traditional rows, space plants about 8 inches apart with 12 inches between rows.

Perennial. Comes back every spring and flowers purple in June.

One square foot planted with chives, as drawn in the planner.

How to grow chives

Chives are a hardy perennial that comes back every spring, needs almost no care and gives a mild onion flavor from early spring to fall. A clump at the edge of a bed is enough for most kitchens, and the purple flowers in June are edible.

Sun and soil

Full sun is best, though chives tolerate light shade. Rich, well-drained soil with a pH of about 6.0–7.0 and steady moisture; they survive drought but yield less.

Planting

  1. The fastest start is a nursery plant or a division from a friend.
  2. From seed, sow several seeds per cell ¼ inch deep indoors 6–8 weeks before transplanting.
  3. Transplant clumps from 2 weeks before the last frost to the frost date, when soil is at least 45°F.
  4. Space clumps 8 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart.

Care

  • Water during dry spells and feed lightly in spring.
  • Divide clumps every 2–3 years in spring to keep them vigorous.
  • Remove spent flower heads before they drop seed, or chives will self-sow around the bed.
  • After flowering, cut the whole clump back to a couple of inches for a flush of fresh leaves.

Harvest

Start cutting about 30 days after transplanting or 60 days after sowing. Snip leaves to 1–2 inches above the soil with scissors, taking a section of the clump at a time. Pick flowers when just open for salads; flower stalks themselves are tough.

Common problems

  • Thrips: Silvery, twisted leaves. Rinse with a strong water spray and cut back damaged foliage.
  • Downy mildew and rust: Pale or rusty leaves in damp weather. Divide crowded clumps for airflow and cut off affected leaves.
  • Unwanted seedlings: Deadhead before seeds ripen.

Crop rotation

Chives belong to the onion family (Amaryllidaceae). Onion maggot and white rot persist. Rotate for 3–4 years. Relatives that count as the same family for rotation: onion, garlic, leek, green onion.

Frequently asked questions

When should I plant chives?
Start chives indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost, plant them out up to 2 weeks before your last frost. Type your ZIP code above for exact dates, or see the city table.
How far apart should I plant chives?
In rows, space chives about 8 inches apart with rows 12 inches apart. In a square-foot bed, plant 9 per square foot.
How long do chives take to grow?
About 60–90 days from sowing to first harvest, depending on the variety and the weather.
Can chives handle frost?
Yes. Chives handle frost well and are planted before the last frost in spring.

Sources

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