Chives (Garlic) Growing Guide
Crop Rotation Group
Allium (Onion family) ●
Any average, well drained soil.
Full sun to partial afternoon shade.
Garlic chives are hardy perennials that survive winter even in very cold climates.
Not generally needed.
Apple, Carrot, Grape Vine, Peas, Rose, Tomato, Gooseberry, Raspberry and Strawberry. Also, other mound-forming herbs.
Single Plants: 15cm (5") each way (minimum)
Rows: 15cm (5") with 20cm (7") row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Start with a purchased plant, or start seeds indoors and set out at about the time of your last frost. Plants spaced 15 cm (6in) apart will grow into a solid mass in 3 years.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Garlic chives produce white, lightly scented flowers in late summer. Gather them for use as cut flowers to keep garlic chives from reseeding. Like regular chives, garlic chives can become invasive.
Do not harvest in the first year. In spring, gather handfuls of greens for use in the kitchen. The leaves become somewhat tough in summer.
Deadhead garlic chives to limit reseeding.
Planting and Harvesting Calendar
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