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How to Grow Chives from Seed

easyGardening1 hr

Learn how to grow fresh chives from seed with this straightforward gardening guide. Designed for beginner gardeners, this tutorial teaches you how to properly prepare your soil, sow seeds, and maintain the ideal environment for successful germination.

Tools Needed

Hand shovel — Small gardening shovel for transplanting and dividing
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Scissors — Sharp cutting shears for harvesting
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Materials

Compost — Potting compost(As needed for pot size)
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Chive seeds — Allium schoenoprasum seeds(1 packet)
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Small stones — Drainage pebbles(Small handful)
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Plastic film — Thin transparent plastic sheet(1 piece)
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Steps

1
Prepare a pot by covering the drain holes with small stones to prevent compost from washing away. Fill the pot with compost, pressing it down lightly to remove air pockets, and water the soil before adding seeds.
Potting compost Drainage stones Drain holes Press lightly Cross-section: Layer stones at the bottom before adding compost.
2
Sprinkle chive seeds on top of the moist compost. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of compost and label the pot. Alternatively, if using seeds from mature purple flowers, plant them under a half-inch of moist soil.
3
Cover the pot with a thin layer of plastic film to retain moisture and keep the environment warm. Seeds typically begin to germinate after about a week.
4
Maintain the plants by keeping them warm and watered. Chives thrive in abundance of sun and regular moisture with good drainage, though they are shade-tolerant and adaptable.
5
Once plants are approximately six inches high and reasonably thick, begin harvesting. Cut the stalks but leave about one inch of the plant remaining to promote further growth.
Chive stalks 1" base Scissors Cut stalks Harvesting · Leave one inch of stem to allow the plant to regrow
6
To propagate and expand your crop, use a hand shovel to dig up a large clump. Divide the root sections into smaller clumps and transplant them into moist, well-drained soil, submerging the roots deeply.
submerge deeply divided clump hand shovel moist soil Cross-section · Ensure roots are fully covered to promote establishment

Pro Tips

  • Chives are a hardy perennial herb that survives through winter and grows in USDA zones 3 through 9.
  • When harvesting, select the tallest and largest stalks first to allow shorter ones to grow longer.
  • Divide chive clumps every few years to keep the plants productive.
  • The purple pom-pom blossoms of the chive plant are edible.

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