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Growing Chives

(Allium schoenoprasum)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
P P P P           P P P

(Best months for planting Chives in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)


  • Easy to grow.
  • Harvest in 50-80 days
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
  • Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 30°C.
  • Space plants: 5cm

Grass-like leaves in clumps. Likes full sun but not too dry.

Chives are a perennial but die down in winter. You can dig up a small clump to pot up for indoor use in winter.

Remove flowers to encourage a continuous supply of leaves.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Chives

Use raw in salads or as a mild onion flavour in cooked dishes.

Your comments and tips

31 May 11 Athol Thomas (New Zealand - temperate climate)
How can i cure a Black Sooty Type Mould that appears in my Chives late each Summer.

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See planting calendar for these climate zones

New Zealand - cool/mountain,   New Zealand - sub-tropical,   New Zealand - temperate  

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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