Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
9 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Site
- soil pH 6–6.6
- Biggest risk
- Onion downy mildew
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) — herbaceous perennial.
This is a frost-tender crop — it will not survive below about 2°C — so in UK conditions the growing year is built around starting it under cover and moving it out only once the risk has passed.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
Soil & Growing Conditions
Soil pH range
Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6 - 6.6 |
| Optimal growing temp | 10-20C |
| Minimum survivable temp | 2C |
| Drainage | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand; moisture-retentive, well-drained soil |
| Lifecycle | herbaceous perennial |
| Edible parts | leaves, flowers |
At a Glance
Growth Stages
| Stage | BBCH | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sowing or division | 0 | Sow indoors in early spring 0.5-1cm deep, or direct outdoors; thin seedlings to 15-20cm apart. Alternatively divide an established clump every three to four years, pulling it apart and replanting sections 15cm apart in spring or autumn -- much faster than starting from seed. RHS. |
| Establishment | 3 | A young clump bulks up through its first season; avoid heavy cutting until it is well established. RHS. |
| Cut-and-come-again cropping | 5 | Snip with scissors just above the base whenever leaves are needed, ideally in the morning -- the more often the plant is cut, the more new leaves it produces, right through spring to autumn. RHS. |
| Flowering & winter care | 6 | Decorative pompom flowerheads appear in late spring and summer and are themselves edible, scattered into salads. Established clumps die back for winter; potting one up and bringing it indoors onto a sunny windowsill extends the harvest through the cold months. RHS. |
Harvest & Storage
When to pick: Cut-and-come-again herb; snip leaves regularly from spring to autumn to encourage fresh growth
Diseases
Pests
Chives, Clump to Flower
References
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9 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What soil pH do chives need?
A pH of about 6–6.6. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect chives?
Our data links 2 diseases and 4 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Almost everything on this page resolves to your own frost dates rather than the calendar — the last spring frost moves by roughly two months between zone 3 and zone 10. The USA Garden Planner works from your zone so the timing is already decided before the season starts.
Get the USA Garden Planner →Instant PDF download · Written for US growing conditions
Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.