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Herbs, Flowers & Specialty CropsChives Planting Calendar
Chives come up early, tolerate cold and return every year. A short calendar of planting, cutting and division will keep a clump productive for many seasons.
Key points
- Plant chive clumps in spring, or seed as soon as soil is workable.
- Choose full sun and well-drained, organic soil.
- Cut leaves at the base and remove spent flower stalks.
- Divide every three to four years in spring.
When should you plant chives?
University of Minnesota Extension advises planting rooted clumps in spring after frost danger has passed for the easiest results, though chives can also be started from seed. Chives tolerate cool weather, so you can plant as soon as soil is workable in many areas.
Check your average last frost with the National Weather Service or your county extension office. Because chives are hardy, they are one of the first herbs to show growth in spring.
Garlic chives are a different plant with flat leaves and a garlic flavor. They are also perennial, but they self-seed freely, so cut flower heads if you do not want volunteers.
- Buy or divide clumps in spring for the quickest harvest.
- Start seed indoors a few weeks before the last frost if you prefer.
- Water new clumps well and keep them evenly moist.
- Mark the planting so you remember where the crown is in winter.
Should you start chives from seed or divisions?
Divisions and nursery clumps give you harvestable plants quickly. Seed is inexpensive and works well if you have time, though it takes longer. Start seed indoors several weeks before the last frost or sow outdoors in spring.
Seed germinates unevenly, so sow thickly and thin as seedlings grow. Keep the seedbed evenly moist.
Keep seedlings evenly moist and thin gradually. Seedlings look like grass at first, so mark the row so you do not hoe it out.
What site and soil do chives need?
The Minnesota source recommends full sun, six to eight hours of direct light being best, and well-drained soil rich in organic matter with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. A soil test shows your pH and guides any amendments, and nutrient management rules vary by state.
Space plants about six to twelve inches apart to give clumps room to fill in.
Chives grow well in pots, which suits small spaces. Use a container with drainage and refresh the potting mix when you divide.
How do you harvest chives?
Snip leaves at the base rather than cutting just the tips. This produces tender regrowth and keeps the clump neat. Begin light cutting once plants are established, and harvest through the season.
After flowers fade, cut the flower stalks at the soil line to keep the plant from going to seed and to encourage fresh leaves. You can leave some flowers for pollinators, and the blooms are edible.
Do not cut everything at once. Leave a good portion of leaf so the plant can keep photosynthesizing and regrow quickly.
- Cut about an inch or two above the soil, leaving the crown intact.
- Harvest older outer leaves first.
- Remove flower stalks if you want a steady leaf supply.
- Rinse and dry leaves before storing.
When and how do you divide chives?
Divide established clumps every three to four years, with spring the best time. Lift the clump, split it into smaller sections and replant in soil enriched with compost, watering well.
Division also gives you plants to share or move. A divided clump is more productive than a crowded one.
Water after dividing and keep new divisions moist for a few weeks until roots take hold.
- Dig the clump with a fork to keep roots intact.
- Split into sections with several bulbs each.
- Replant at the same depth as before.
- Keep divisions evenly moist for several weeks.
Can you preserve extra chives?
Chives taste best fresh, but extra leaves can be chopped and frozen. For freezing and drying, rely on tested guidance from the National Center for Home Food Preservation or your extension office, rather than improvising.
Pots on a kitchen windowsill can supply small harvests in winter, especially from a clump dug from the garden and rested in the cold first.
Label frozen chives with the date and use them within the time that tested guidance recommends for the freezer.
What problems affect chives?
Onion thrips, rust and other diseases sometimes affect chives, especially in warm, humid weather or crowded clumps. Clean cutting, good spacing and removal of damaged leaves help.
If you consider a pesticide, the label is the law, pre-harvest intervals apply and applicator licensing varies by state. Ask your extension office for current advice.
Clean up dead foliage in late fall or early spring to reduce disease carryover and make room for fresh growth.
- Space clumps for air movement.
- Remove damaged leaves promptly.
- Clean up dead leaves each year.
- Ask extension to identify any pest before you treat it.
Timing at a glance
| Item | Window | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Chives planting, University of Minnesota Extension | Spring, after frost danger has passed, for rooted clumps | Source guidance for Minnesota; use your own frost dates. |
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.