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🌿 Herbs

Chives: sowing, planting, growing and harvesting

Learn when to sow, plant, care for and harvest chives in your garden.

Chives

🌱 Chives : key growing facts

⭐ DifficultyEasy
☀️ LightFull sun to partial shade, depending on herb
💧 WateringModerate; less for Mediterranean herbs
🌍 SoilFree-draining; avoid excessive fertiliser
📏 Spacing20–40 cm (8–16 in)
🪴 Container growingYes; use pots with drainage holes

📅 Growing calendar

🌱 SowingSpring; some perennial herbs are planted
🪴 PlantingSpring or autumn in mild climates
🧺 HarvestPick leaves during active growth
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
● Sowing● Planting● Harvest

Indicative Northern Hemisphere temperate-climate calendar only. Adjust to local frost dates, climate, variety and growing conditions. In the Southern Hemisphere, seasons are approximately six months later.

🔎 Growing specifications

🌡️ Germination15–22 °C (59–72 °F); 7–21 days
📏 Sowing depthSurface sow to 1 cm (0.4 in), depending on seed
🧪 Preferred pH6.0–7.0
⏱️ Approx. growing timeAnnual or perennial, depending on herb
📦 Typical yieldHarvest small amounts repeatedly
🌍 Soil typeFree-draining; avoid excessive fertiliser

🧺 Harvest readiness & expected yield

When to pick

Harvest when the edible part reaches the desired size and quality. Handle carefully and store promptly using methods suited to this crop.

What to expect

Harvest small amounts repeatedly

Indicative only; variety, climate and care affect harvests.

🌿 How to grow successfully

🤝 Companion planting

Grow beside leafy greens or carrots if spacing and watering requirements allow.

↔️ What to avoid

Avoid poorly drained soil and repeated allium planting in the same bed.

🐛 Pests and diseases

Check regularly for aphids, slugs and fungal disease.

🧤 Ongoing care

Pinch growing tips and avoid soggy compost.

🧺 Harvest and storage

Harvest bulbs at maturity, cure in a dry airy place and store only undamaged bulbs.

🧑‍🌾 From sowing to harvest

Prepare the soil

Remove perennial weeds and prepare a firm, well-drained bed without fresh manure.

Sow or transplant

Sow seeds or plant sets/cloves according to the crop; keep the growing point at the correct depth.

What to monitor

Check for rust, thrips and yellowing foliage; keep beds weed-free.

When and how to harvest

Harvest when the edible part reaches the desired size and quality. Handle carefully and store promptly using methods suited to this crop.

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