When to plant Chives
Set out divisions or start seed a couple of weeks before last frost. A hardy perennial whose purple flowers feed pollinators.
When to plant Chives by zone
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Sow or transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April 3 | May 1 | July 20 |
| Zone 4 | March 29 | April 26 | July 15 |
| Zone 5 | March 19 | April 16 | July 5 |
| Zone 6 | March 10 | April 7 | June 26 |
| Zone 7 | February 27 | March 27 | June 15 |
| Zone 8 | February 14 | March 14 | June 2 |
| Zone 9 | January 18 | February 15 | May 6 |
| Zone 10 | December 20 | January 17 | April 7 |
| Zone 11 | November 20 | December 18 | March 8 |
These dates use typical frost dates for each zone. Dibble tunes them to your exact ZIP and lets you adjust frost dates for your own yard.
Companion plants
Good neighbors for Chives:
Better kept apart:
Family and rotation
Chives is in the alliums family. Light feeders that deter pests. Good rotation partners; keep away from beans and peas. Learn about crop rotation.
Related crops
Onion
When to plantGarlic
When to plantLeek
When to plantGreen Onion
When to plantShallot
When to plantBasil
When to plantQuestions
When should I plant chives?
It depends on your zone. Chives is a hardy crop, so the timing follows your last spring frost. Look up your zone in the table below for exact start, sow, and harvest dates, or open Dibble and enter your ZIP to get your own calendar.
How long does chives take to grow?
About 80 days from transplant to the first harvest, with a picking window of roughly 150 days after that.
What grows well with chives?
Good companions include Carrot, Tomato. Keep it away from Bean (bush), Pea.
Plant at the right time this season
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