How To Grow Chives (The Easiest Herb)

Whether you’re a new gardener or lover of fresh herbs in the kitchen, you must learn how to grow chives, the easiest and most versatile herb! Although they are a welcome addition to any garden, chives are the perfect plant to grow in a pot in whatever small space you have. Better yet, they are cut-and-come-again perennials who require minimal care.

What are Chives?

The chive plant is a cold-tolerant, cool-season-loving herb and a member of the allium family (related to garlic, onions, and leeks). Both the long, slender leaves and beautiful flowers are edible and delicious.

Chives are perennials, meaning they will die back in the winter but return all on their own whenever the weather begins to warm up. They are the first plants in my garden to emerge in the late winter, and once they get a taste of sunshine, they take off.

two pictures of chives during early growth, picture on left with chives emerging from the soil in early February, picture on right 14 days later with tall chives.

If you don’t get freezing temps where you live (or you choose to bring your potted chives inside during the winter), your chives will likely grow year-round.

They are similar to garlic and onions in their flavor, but not as pungent – great for those who prefer more subtle flavors.

Like other alliums, chives have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and help promote healthy digestion. Because their leaves are small and delicate, they don’t hold up to hot cooking temps. They are best eaten raw and sprinkled on top of practically any savory dish.

Onion Chives vs. Garlic Chives

The two most common types of chives are onion chives (common chives) and garlic chives (Chinese chives).

Common chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are the ones you typically see in grocery stores. They have thin, hollow leaves that grow to 10-15 inches long. You’ll most commonly see their beautiful soft purple blossoms in the spring, but certain varieties can produce red, pink, or white flowers. Their flavor is similar to an onion’s but more subtle.

Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) have longer, flatter leaves that are a deeper green color and can grow to almost 2 feet long. During the springtime, they produce clusters of small white flowers. The name says it all – their flavor resembles that of garlic.

Chives vs. Green Onions

Although chives and green onions (scallions) are related and can easily be mistaken for each other, they are not the same.

chives and green onions on cutting board next to each other in comparison

Green onions (scallions) are much thicker, denser, and become white closer to the roots, whereas chives are completely green and hollow throughout. Chives also have a milder flavor than green onions.

partly sliced chives and green onions next to each other on a cutting board

Why You Should Grow Chives

Chives are the easiest herb (maybe the easiest plant) to grow – the ultimate beginner’s herb! These babies grow like weeds and are not picky about their growing conditions.
Better yet, they’re perennials, meaning you plant them once and they’ll come back year after year.
Successfully growing chives requires very little space and effort, and absolutely no prior gardening experience – perfect for those who are busy and only have the space (or mental capacity) for a small pot.
They make the best companion plants for kitchen gardens because they rarely struggle with disease or pests (if anything, they will help keep pests away from your most desired veggies).
Most importantly, chives are a delicious and versatile herb to use in a variety of dishes. They add a fresh and fancy pop of green to whatever you are serving up.

Check out 5 Easy Ways To Use And Store Chives.

How To Grow Chives

Chives can be grown from either transplants or seeds. If you’re new to growing herbs, I highly recommend getting started with transplants. This way, you can save yourself the stress and be harvesting your homegrown chives in no time.

Starting Chives From Transplants

The easiest way to become a chive master is to buy your chives as transplants from a local nursery. 1-2 plants are more than enough if growing them in a pot (they expand over the years).

Note: You’ll read in a bit that chives need to be divided every few years. If you have a loved one with well-established chives, ask if they are looking to divide them this season and share their divisions with you.

Plant your transplants in your pot or gardening space with enough room to expand, about 6 inches from other plants.

Chives are not picky about what soil they are in and are even well adapted to poor soil. However, for the very best growth and production, use moist, well-drained, rich soil (fresh topsoil, compost, or potting mix will do).

Starting Chives From Seed

If you have a little gardening experience under your belt and know the basics of seed starting, you can experiment with growing your chives from seed.

Check out your local nursery or any online seed company, and you’ll most definitely find chive seeds. The ones I use are from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company.

You can sow chive seeds either indoors or directly out in your garden as long as the soil is workable (preferably in early spring).

Sow the seeds about 1/8 inch deep in moist soil. Water them gently (a strong stream can displace the tiny seeds) and keep the soil moist. Within 7-14 days, your chives will germinate.

Caring For Chives

Don’t overthink it when caring for your chives – they really are one of the most forgiving and resilient plants. They have a few simple requirements:

Chives prefer the cooler temps of spring and autumn which is when you’ll find them growing like the little rockstars that they are (they love a good frost). They are almost always the first plants to reemerge from their roots in late winter. If the summers get super hot where you live, your chives will likely go dormant until the temps cool off again.
Chives do best in 6+ hours of sunlight, but if all you have is a partly shady spot on your balcony, they’ll grow just fine out there, too (growth will be a little slower). They do appreciate a little afternoon shade in the midsummer heat.
Chives thrive with regular watering, but they are considered drought-tolerant and can withstand a little neglect. The best way to tell if they need a drink is to stick your finger about 1-2 inches down into the soil. If it feels dry, then give it some water. Smaller pots dry out much faster than larger garden beds, so keep an eye on the moisture content.
Add some nutrients to the soil by side-dressing your chive plants with a little compost every spring and autumn. This will keep them happy and well-fed. No need for synthetic fertilizers (like, ever).
Every few years, your chives will need to be divided. To do this, simply dig up the plant and gently break apart the root bulb with your hands into 4-5 clumps. Replant these clumps (or give a few away as gifts) and water them in well. This task is preferably done in spring or autumn so the new transplants have time to re-establish themselves.

How To Harvest Chives

Chives are the ultimate cut-and-come-again herb, meaning you can harvest up to 1/3 of the plant, allow time for it to regrow, and come back for continued harvests again and again.

Regular harvesting keeps the plant healthy and encourages new growth.

hand holding a large handful of freshly cut chives with raised garden beds in the background

Chives are ready to be harvested at about 60 days after transplanting.

Harvesting your chives is as simple and using some clean garden or kitchen shears to snip off as much as you need. Cut down at the base and make sure to leave about an inch of growth above the soil level.

hands using scissors to harvest chives from a raised garden bed.

Chive Blossoms

Once a year in the spring, chives send up stalks of fluffy light purple flowers that contain their seeds – this is one of the ways the plant expands every year.

You can harvest the flowers or leave them be.

If you choose to leave them, the pollinators will adore you and the seeds will eventually drop and grow into more chives.

If you choose to harvest them, pick the blossoms just after they open but before the color fades.

Chive blossoms are edible and have a vibrant onion flavor. Throw them on top of a spring salad or use them as a beautiful garnish. You can also add them to a jar and them cover with vinegar to create a chive blossom-infused vinegar.

Using Chives In The Garden

Chives are a gardener’s dream plant. Not only do they grow like champs and make excellent border plants, but they also are generally pest-free. Thanks to their pungent scent, they’re known for helping to ward off certain insects like aphids and Japanese beetles.

tall and long chives growing in a raised garden bed

They are a friendly neighbor to almost any other plant, with the exception of peas and beans. They are known to enhance the grow of carrots and tomatoes when planted next to each other.

How To Use Chives

From dips, soups, and chili to potatoes or eggs made any which way, fresh chives are THE herb to have on hand for topping almost any savory dish.

Their delicate leaves don’t require cooking – simply finely slice them and sprinkle away on top of your finished meal.

omlete and sliced tomatoes on a plate with chives on top

Not only do chives add a zesty pop of flavor, but they help complete and elevate a dish with a fresh green element. You will instantly feel fancy.

Once you start growing chives, you’ll find yourself using them in more ways than you imagined (I use them almost every day).

Let’s take it to the kitchen! Check out 5 Easy Ways To Use And Store Chives.

whole and finely sliced chives on a wooden cutting board next to a kitchen knife

My Favorite Chive Recipes

More Learn-To-Grow Guides

Thanks for reading – let me know in the comments what other herbs you’re interested in growing!

How To Grow Chives (The Easiest Herb)