As with other herbs, chives thrive best in well-draining soil that’s rich with organic material like compost. Mulching also contributes to creating an optimal growing environment.
Chive plants can withstand most conditions, though they may experience difficulties if their growing conditions become unsuitable. When this occurs, pests like onion maggots, spider mites and thrips may attack their foliage and flowers resulting in damage to both foliage and blooms.
Winter Dormancy
Once winter hits, chive plants typically enter dormancy and stop growing, necessitating overwintering them indoors in frost-free regions. If you want to keep a clump alive through this period, pot it up and place in a sunny window; water it occasionally but don’t allow its soil to become totally dry; in spring give a small dose of fertilizer (it won’t need much).
Chives thrive when planted either directly into the soil or containers with soil amended with compost or organic material such as mulch. They should receive at least full sunlight; light shade is acceptable. When planting outdoors, be mindful to clear away weeds or any plants which compete for space with your chives, while when growing in containers make sure your container has an ample pot and add a well-draining soil mix for best results.
Chives need to be watered regularly to maintain healthy bulbs. Mulching around their clumps is also recommended, as this helps conserve moisture – particularly important if grown in containers.
Chives are relatively straightforward to care for, yet can become susceptible to pests and diseases in unfavorable environments. Common issues include onion maggots, thrips and mealybugs – often attacking both foliage and flowers of chives – but these pests can be controlled using insecticidal soap or covering.
After three or four years, your chives will require division for replanting. To do this, carefully dig up and separate each clump with a shovel while not damaging their bulbets or roots. These divisions can then be transplanted elsewhere in your garden or given away to gardening friends as gifts. Alternatively, propagation from seeds should take place annually in early spring.
Spring Planting
As soon as the weather warms and there is no longer any threat of frost, outdoor planting of chive seeds becomes possible. To enrich the soil’s nutrients further, mix in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter when sowing your seeds in garden beds; or sow four to six weeks prior to expected last frost if starting plants from seed in an outdoor bed; otherwise harden purchased seedlings by gradually increasing exposure time over 10 days.
Chives should be planted 8 to 12 inches apart in your garden bed for best results. As perennials, they’ll return year after year with fresh leaves for you to harvest! Chives make an attractive addition to culinary herb gardens or mixed in with flowers for an organic aesthetic; additionally they make great container plants as their care requirements are minimal and growth occurs quickly.
No matter where or how you plant, ensure chives are planted in rich, well-draining soil. I prefer using a mixture of potting soil with coarse sand mixed in and some topsoil or compost to aid drainage while adding extra nutrition to the mix. To maximize growth and ensure optimal development of your chives, apply Miracle-Gro Performance Organics(r) Edibles Plant Nutrition once every week (follow label instructions).
Water your chive clump until its soil reaches a moisture content of 6-8 inches deep, taking care not to overwater because over-watering can lead to root rot and other issues. A mulch such as wood chips, shredded leaves or quality bagged potting mix may be useful in keeping soil moist while helping keep temperatures under control and prevent weed growth.
Chives tend to grow quickly during the growing season and require frequent watering during hot and dry conditions. But rest assured, they require low maintenance costs with few issues beyond aphids and leek rust arising as part of your maintenance program.
Summer Maintenance
Chive plants can grow both indoors and outdoors; however, potted containers offer many advantages for growing these chives. Moving indoors or outdoors as conditions shift; easier watering due to their porous soil remaining aerated without becoming saturated; greater adaptability during harsh summer or winter weather conditions; easier isolation when infected by diseases or pests that threaten nearby plants; etc.
Whenever planting chives in the garden, make sure to dig a hole that is as big and deep as the root ball of each clump of chives. Space the plants 8-12 inches apart while mixing plenty of compost or aged organic matter such as leafmould into the planting soil to increase nutrition and drainage.
Chives require minimal care once established and can thrive in either full sun or partial shade conditions. While not specific about soil quality or type, chives do prefer consistent moisture levels throughout their lifespan – provide water as soon as the top inch dries out completely during summer. Check for moisture regularly to maintain optimal growth; provide water when topsoil dries out 1″ down.
Chive plants that receive proper feedings produce the highest harvests. Apply a general-purpose granular fertiliser such as Plantura All Purpose Fertiliser around each clump in March and repeat this practice at least twice before July. This release of nutrients over time strengthens soil structure while supporting microorganisms.
Harvest chive clumps by cutting away their top leaves and taking out any flowers, either regularly to encourage new growth and extend harvest season or divide clumps into sections and use as kitchen herbs – garnish eggs, salads or soups with them for mild onion flavor; once autumn hits it’s easy replanting for next year! Chives are perennial plants; once they die back it’s easy re-sowing.
Fall Preparation
Though chives are relatively easy to grow, they must receive optimal conditions in which to thrive. Poor soil and care may lead to yellowing foliage, slow growth or failure to bloom – especially if growing them in an outdoor garden with poor nutrient-rich soil requiring amendment via compost or bagged potting mix before planting.
Chives are perennial herbs that can be planted either directly into the ground or in containers. Once planted, they produce fragrant onion-flavoured leaves that can be harvested between spring and autumn (or year-round in warmer climates), with beautiful mauve flower heads which should be harvested as soon as they first appear, before their buds turn purple and prevent further harvest.
For maximum foliage and flower display, place chives in full sun. They thrive best when planted in fertile, well-drained soil in either containers or the ground; to plant in containers use Miracle-Gro(r) Performance Organics All Purpose Container Mix instead.
Water chives regularly in either their native soil or containers to ensure the top inch of soil stays moist. Chives may tolerate drought conditions well, but regular irrigation will promote healthy growth and help avoid disease.
Feed your chives regularly using either liquid or granular all-purpose garden fertilizer. Both forms will slowly release nutrients to your herbs over time. When applying granular fertiliser, light rub it into the top layer of soil around your chives to promote healthy microorganisms in the soil that absorb more nutrients more effectively.
Chives can be propagated via seed, but for optimal success they should be started from divisions of older clumps. Divide mature clumps every three years using a garden spade or similar tool and divide into individual sections with its own bulb and root structure – these individual sections can then be planted as desired.
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