Common Chives

Family: Amaryllidaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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Fragrant, oniony blades rise in tidy clumps, offering a crisp, snappy bite and a vivid green that looks as fresh as it tastes.

‘Common Chives’ delivers dependable harvests with fine, hollow stems and a clean, bright flavor that shines in everyday garnishes, herb blends, and quick pickling brines. Grow it for repeated snips from spring through early fall—an elegant kitchen garden staple that rewards regular care with bold, aromatic growth.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Clumping

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Common Chives Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	May 4th	Jun 15th	Aug 14th – Jul 15th
Zone 1b	Apr 20th	Jun 1st	Jul 31st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 13th	May 25th	Jul 24th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 3rd	May 15th	Jul 14th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 3rd	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 7th	May 19th	Jul 18th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 3rd	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 1st	May 13th	Jul 12th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 27th	May 8th	Jul 7th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 23rd	May 4th	Jul 3rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 20th	May 1st	Jun 30th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 14th	Apr 25th	Jun 24th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 9th	Apr 20th	Jun 19th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 27th	Apr 10th	Jun 9th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 18th	Apr 1st	May 31st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 9th	Mar 23rd	May 22nd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 23rd	Mar 6th	May 5th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 29th	Feb 9th	Apr 10th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Clumping
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Common chives bring a clean, onion-herb snap that doesn’t get lost—hit them at the end so the flavor stays sharp and the stems remain pleasantly crisp. Their fine hollow blades also pickle quickly, turning tangy and bright without turning chewy.

Best Uses

classic chive sour-cream or yogurt sauce
finishing garnish for hot potatoes, eggs, and soups
quick-pickled chives in vinegar brine
folded into butter for steak or baked potatoes

Flavor Profile

bright oniony bite crisp, hollow snap fresh-cut herb aroma gentle grassy finish

Kitchen Pairings

butter sour cream lemon juice eggs mushrooms salmon

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Allium schoenoprasum (common chives), and how do I treat it?

Chives commonly suffer from onion thrips and leaf miner damage, which shows up as silvery streaks or blotches that slowly turn brown. Spray with insecticidal soap for thrips and remove heavily affected leaves; repeat every 5–7 days for 2–3 cycles. If you see soft, collapsing bases or yellowing with rotting at the soil line, it’s often fungal/bacterial rot—pull and discard affected plants, avoid overhead watering, and improve drainage before replanting in that spot.

How often should I water common chives during the main growing phase?

During active growth, keep the top 1 inch of soil lightly moist but never waterlogged—this usually means watering about 1–2 times per week depending on heat and soil. Water deeply at the base so the clumps soak, then let the surface dry slightly before the next watering. Consistent moisture prevents tough, weak growth, while soggy soil increases the risk of rot in chive crowns.

How can I tell when common chives are ready to harvest?

Harvest when individual hollow leaves are about 6–8 inches tall (often around 60 days from sowing), and when the clumps look full rather than sparse. Use scissors to cut 1–2 inches above the soil or just above the base of the leaf clusters, taking no more than about one-third of the foliage at a time. For best flavor, harvest before plants flower; once flower buds form, expect tougher leaves and a shift toward more flowering growth.