The common chive, Allium schoenoprasum, is a perennial herb in the onion family known for its mild, delicate flavor and ease of cultivation. This herb grows in grass-like clumps, making it an attractive and functional addition to any garden space. Chives are hardy and reliable, returning year after year with minimal effort, offering a continuous supply of fresh flavor for culinary uses. Their robust nature and appealing appearance, including edible purple flowers, make them a popular choice for both seasoned gardeners and beginners.
Establishing Your Chive Patch
Chives thrive best in full sun, ideally six to eight hours of direct light daily, though they can tolerate partial shade, especially in hotter climates. They require rich, fertile, and well-draining soil to prevent the small underground bulbs from rotting.
Before planting, incorporate several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter into the soil to improve structure and nutrient content. Chives prefer a slightly acidic to neutral pH range, typically between 6.0 and 7.0. While starting from seed is possible, planting established clumps or divisions is the most common and successful method.
When planting in the ground, space the clumps about 6 to 12 inches apart, as they will spread over time. For container gardening, select a pot with excellent drainage and use a high-quality potting mix, ensuring the container is at least six inches deep. Chives naturally form dense clumps and will require division every few years to maintain their vigor.
Routine Care and Feeding
Consistent moisture is important for chives, especially during the active growing season. The soil should be kept evenly moist, but never waterlogged, as poor drainage can quickly lead to root rot in the bulb clusters. In-ground chives may receive sufficient water from rainfall, but container plants require more frequent attention.
Chives are light feeders and generally do not require heavy or frequent fertilization if planted in soil amended with organic matter. Excessive nitrogen can lead to lush, fast growth but may diminish the herb’s characteristic flavor. A single, light application of a balanced fertilizer, such as a 5-10-5 formula, once in early spring can be beneficial for older, heavily harvested plants.
Chives are relatively resistant to pests and diseases due to their natural allium compounds. Fungal issues like rust are the most common problem and are usually the result of high humidity or poor air circulation caused by overcrowding. If you are growing chives in containers, a diluted liquid fertilizer applied every four to six weeks during the growing season will help replenish nutrients.
Harvesting Techniques and Longevity
The correct harvesting method is essential for encouraging continuous and healthy regrowth throughout the season. Use a clean, sharp pair of scissors or herb shears to snip the hollow leaves rather than tearing or pulling them, which can damage the root system. Cut the blades one to two inches above the soil line, leaving a small stub for the plant to recover and photosynthesize.
Focus your harvesting efforts on the outer leaves of the clump, avoiding the newer, central growth to promote a steady supply of fresh chives. Never remove more than one-third of the entire clump at any one time. Regular cutting is beneficial, signaling the plant to produce new shoots and preventing the older leaves from becoming tough.
The attractive purple pom-pom flowers are also edible and possess a stronger, more pungent onion flavor than the leaves. Once the chives bloom, remove the spent flowers to prevent the plant from setting seed, which can lead to a decrease in leaf production.
To maintain the long-term health of your chive patch, plan to divide the congested clumps every three to four years. Division is typically performed in early spring or fall by lifting the entire clump and separating it into smaller sections, each containing several bulblets. Replanting these divisions immediately will rejuvenate the original patch and allow you to expand your garden. Chives are hardy perennials that enter dormancy when temperatures drop, dying back completely in the fall, but their frost-tolerant bulbs will sprout vigorously again in the spring.