Chives

🌱 Sowing Chives: Trays vs. Direct Sowing

Chives can be grown from seed either by starting in trays or by sowing direct into the garden, depending on your space, climate, and personal rhythm in the garden.

Sowing in Trays

Starting chives in trays gives you more control—particularly over temperature and watering—during the early stages. It’s great for cooler regions or when you want to get a jump-start on the season.

• When to sow: Late winter to early spring in temperate areas, or autumn in subtropical zones. They’ll germinate best in soil temperatures around 15–21°C.
• How to sow: Sow very thinly into seed trays or punnets filled with quality seed-raising mix. Chives are slow to germinate (often 10–14 days), so patience is key here.
• Tip: Cover seeds lightly—just a dusting of soil is enough—and keep trays moist, not soggy. A misting spray works well.

Once seedlings are around 5–7cm tall and have at least two sets of true leaves, you can transplant them out into the garden.

Direct Sowing

Direct sowing is best suited to gardeners in warmer regions or during the warmer months. Just remember, they take their time to emerge, so mark your rows!

• How to sow direct: Choose a weed-free, well-prepared bed. Sow very thinly in shallow furrows around 6mm deep, spaced 15cm apart.
• Watering: Gently water and keep soil moist until germination. Thin seedlings to around 10–15cm apart once established.

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🌾 Is Seed Pre-Treatment Required?

No special pre-treatment is needed for chive seeds. They don’t need soaking or stratification—just a little time and steady moisture to wake them up.

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🌞 Soil & Position

Chives are easy-going, but they do have preferences that’ll help them thrive:

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil with plenty of organic matter. Slightly alkaline to neutral pH (around 6.0–7.0) is ideal.
• Sunlight: Chives love the sun—aim for a full sun spot (6+ hours a day), though they’ll tolerate light shade, especially in hotter climates.
• Drainage matters: Wet, boggy soils can cause bulb rot. If your soil holds water, consider planting chives in raised beds or large pots.

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🌿 Care & Maintenance

Once your chive plants are established, they’ll pretty much look after themselves—but a bit of attention goes a long way.

Watering

Chives like even moisture, especially in dry spells. Water deeply once or twice a week in summer. In containers, they’ll need more frequent watering.

Feeding

A light application of liquid seaweed or compost tea every few weeks keeps them growing lush and green. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers—they’ll promote too much leaf growth at the expense of flavour.

Trimming

Regular cutting not only gives you herbs for the kitchen, but it also keeps the plant compact and prevents it from flowering too early. Once they flower, growth slows down.

Mulching

Mulch around the base to conserve moisture and keep weeds down—just keep the mulch clear of the crown to prevent rot.

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🌼 Companion Planting Guide

Chives are team players in the garden! Their strong scent can repel aphids, carrot fly, and even mildew, making them wonderful companions.

Grows Well With	Why it Works
Carrots	Helps deter carrot fly.
Tomatoes	Repels aphids and boosts flavour.
Strawberries	May reduce fungal disease.
Roses	Reduces black spot and aphids.
Cabbage family	Deters cabbage moth.

Avoid planting with: Beans and peas—chives may stunt their growth.

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✂️ Harvesting Chives

Harvest as soon as plants are about 15cm tall. The more you cut, the more they grow—think of them like a living herb fountain!

• How to harvest: Use clean scissors to cut leaves down to 2–3cm above the soil.
• Best time: Morning is best, when the leaves are crisp and full of moisture.
• Flowers: The blooms are edible, too—mild onion flavour with a peppery finish. Snip them young and toss into salads or dry them for later use.

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🐛 Common Issues & Fixes

Problem	Symptoms	Fix
Damping off	Seedlings collapse and die	Improve air flow, don’t overwater. Use sterile mix.
Slugs & snails	Ragged holes in young seedlings	Use beer traps, crushed eggshells, or copper tape.
Aphids	Clusters on new growth	Spray with soapy water or neem oil. Introduce ladybirds.
Rust fungus	Orange pustules on leaves	Improve spacing, remove affected leaves, avoid overhead watering.
Leaf yellowing	Poor drainage or nutrient imbalance	Check watering, improve soil with compost or balanced fertiliser.

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🌾 Saving Chive Seeds

Chives are open-pollinated and self-seeding, making them ideal for seed saving if you want to build up your own seed stock.

How to Save Seeds:

1. Let some flower heads mature—don’t deadhead all of them.
2. The flowers will fade and develop into small round seed pods.
3. Wait until the seed heads turn brown and papery.
4. Cut the whole stem, place upside-down in a paper bag, and allow it to dry completely indoors.
5. Shake or rub the heads to release the tiny black seeds.
6. Store in a cool, dry, dark place in an envelope or jar. Label with the date!

💡 Chive seeds have a relatively short viability—aim to use them within 1–2 years for the best germination rates.

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🌱 Final Thoughts

Chives are the sort of herb that fits into any garden—big or small, beginner or expert. They ask for so little but give so much. From fresh omelettes to brightening up the garden with their purple pom-pom blooms, they’re a joyful, useful addition to any patch.

Whether you’re filling a few pots on the patio or building out your perennial herb garden, chives deserve a spot. And once they’re in, you’ll wonder how you ever did without them.

Happy sowing—and don’t forget to keep a bunch by the back door for easy snipping! 🌿✂️

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