🌿 When to Plant Chives

🌿 Herb
Cool Season

Perennial in zones 3+; divide clumps every 3-4 years

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.

Find my zone
Zone Last Frost Start Indoors Transplant Direct Sow
Zone 2A May 30 Apr 4 May 16 May 16
Zone 3B May 15 Mar 20 May 1 May 1
Zone 4A May 8 Mar 13 Apr 24 Apr 24
Zone 4B May 1 Mar 6 Apr 17 Apr 17
Zone 5A Apr 25 Feb 28 Apr 11 Apr 11
Zone 5B Apr 18 Feb 21 Apr 4 Apr 4
Zone 6A Apr 21 Feb 24 Apr 7 Apr 7
Zone 6B Apr 10 Feb 13 Mar 27 Mar 27
Zone 7A Apr 5 Feb 8 Mar 22 Mar 22
Zone 7B Mar 28 Jan 31 Mar 14 Mar 14
Zone 8A Mar 20 Jan 23 Mar 6 Mar 6
Zone 8B Mar 12 Jan 15 Feb 26 Feb 26
Zone 9A Feb 28 Jan 3 Feb 14 Feb 14
Zone 9B Feb 15 Dec 21 Feb 1 Feb 1
Zone 10A Feb 1 Dec 7 Jan 18 Jan 18
Zone 10B Jan 15 Nov 20 Jan 1 Jan 1
Zone 11A Jan 1 Nov 6 Dec 18 Dec 18

Chives are one of the easiest and most useful perennial herbs, with mild onion flavor and pretty purple flowers.

Top Growing Tips

  • Perennial in zones 3-10 — extremely cold-hardy
  • Cut back to 2 inches regularly for continuous fresh growth
  • Flowers are edible and beautiful in salads
  • Divide clumps every 3-4 years to maintain vigor
  • Excellent companion plant — deters aphids and other pests

Companion Planting

Good companions: carrots, tomatoes, roses, grapes

Avoid planting near: beans, peas

Harvest Timeline

Snip leaves to 2 inches above soil; regrows quickly