Chives are a popular perennial herb known for their mild onion flavor and ability to thrive in small spaces. Gardeners value them for their ease of care and tendency to grow in tight, self-propagating clumps. Understanding the growth habit of chives is key, as they are not planted like single-stem vegetables. The goal is to establish multiple productive clumps within a small area to ensure a continuous and abundant harvest.
Recommended Planting Density
For gardeners practicing intensive methods like square foot gardening, chives are categorized as a plant that can be densely grouped. The maximum recommended density is 16 chive clumps per single square foot of growing space. This intensive arrangement is achieved by spacing the individual clumps approximately three inches apart in a grid pattern.
A slightly less dense, but still highly productive, spacing is achieved by placing chive clumps four to six inches apart, which results in either nine or four clumps per square foot, respectively. This dense spacing works well because chives have a shallow, fibrous root system and naturally form self-contained clumps of small bulbs. Planting in groups encourages the formation of these productive clusters rather than singular, isolated plants.
Starting Chives from Seed versus Division
Achieving the desired density depends on whether you start with seeds or mature plant divisions. Starting chives from seed requires planting multiple seeds together to form a single, transplantable unit. Sow a small cluster of about 10 seeds together in a small pot or cell, which will grow into a single clump.
These seedling clumps should be started indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost, as chive seeds can take 10 to 14 days to germinate. Once the danger of frost has passed and the seedlings are established, transplant these pre-formed clusters into the garden at the recommended three-to-four-inch spacing. This clustering technique bypasses the need for extensive thinning and immediately establishes a dense planting configuration.
Starting chives from division is the most successful and rapid method for establishing dense growth. A division is a section of an existing, mature chive plant separated from the main clump. Simply split a mature clump into smaller, manageable sections, ensuring each contains small bulbs and a healthy root system.
Each separated section functions as one clump for the square foot. These divisions are planted directly into the garden at the close three-to-four-inch spacing. This allows for immediate dense coverage and a quicker start to harvesting, while also serving to refresh older, overcrowded plants and keep them vigorous.
Sustaining Dense Chive Growth
Maintaining high-density chive planting requires specific care to ensure productivity. Because the plants are closely packed, the shaded soil surface helps suppress weeds and regulate temperature. However, the high plant population means the soil will dry out much faster than in a traditional garden bed.
Consistent watering is necessary to keep the soil evenly moist, especially during hot or dry periods. While chives tolerate some shade, placing the densely planted square foot in full sun—at least six hours of direct light—will promote the most robust and flavorful leaf growth.
Proper harvesting technique is important for sustaining the clumps and encouraging continuous production. Use clean scissors to snip the leaves, cutting them back to one or two inches above the soil line. Avoid cutting more than one-third of the foliage from any single clump at a time, which prevents stressing the plant and encourages rapid regrowth.
To prevent overcrowding and a decline in overall yield, lift and divide the dense chive clumps every three to four years. This process rejuvenates the existing plants, ensures proper air circulation, and provides fresh divisions that can be replanted or shared, sustaining the productivity of the densely planted area.