Chives – Common

An aromatic herb prized for its onion-like fragrance, garden chives are easy to grow, both in the garden and in pots. The perennial produces a clump of slender tube-shaped green leaves and pretty pink or lilac flowers in early summer, both of which are edible.

Growing tips

Conditions of germination:

depth of sowing: 5 mm

optimal temperatures for germination: 15 to 21ºC

time for germination: 7 to 14 days

When to sow:

indoor sowing 4 to 6 weeks before the last date in your area OR

direct sowing after any risk of frost

Sowing technique: in pocket

Inside the same hole, sow 3 to 5 seeds spaced 1 to 2 cm apart; when the seeds have germinated and the seedlings have reached a height of 5 cm, keep all the seedlings if space is available or keep only the most beautiful ones.

for indoor seedlings: transplant into individual containers while waiting for transplanting in the garden OR

for direct seedlings: transplant to their final location in the garden

Transplanting outdoors (for seedlings started indoors):

When all risk of frost is removed

Distance in the garden:

between plants: 20 cm

between rows: 30 to 45 cm

Height of the plants: 30 to 40 cm

Soil: rich and well drained

Exposure: sunny

Harvest time: 85-90 days, but the first real harvest takes place in the second year

QUICK STATS

Number of seeds: ±1000

Difficulty: Easy

Type: Heirloom / Open pollinated

Lifecycle:Perennial

Additional information

Weight            2.5 g

Difficulty         

Easy

Sowing          

Direct, Indoor

Lifecycle        

Perennial

Root cellar     

No

Sowing season        

Spring, Summer, Fall