Chives have a subtle onion flavor or a mild garlic flavor depending on the variety chosen. The botanical name for chives is Allium schoenoprasum.
Add fresh chives for some mild flavor to just about any dish. You can also add them to salads, stews, and soups.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policies.
Phoenix Gardening Steps: Grow Chives
- When and how to plant chives
- What grows well near chives and what doesn’t?
- How to care for chives
- Harvesting chives- When is the ideal time to pick chives?
When to Plant and How to Grow Chives
Chives are a perennial herb. Chives are low-maintenance and continuously produce new growth. They’re great for garnishing and adding a mild onion flavor to recipes.
They can be planted every month in Phoenix or gardening zone 9b with the exception in the months of May-September.
Plant 1/4 inch under the soil. Seedlings should emerge in 7-14 days. Chives grow 12-18 inches in height and will flower. Allow space for them to spread 12-18 inches.
Companion Plants for Chives
Chives should not be planted near beans or peas. It is beneficial to plant chives near cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, and parsley.
How to Care for Chives
Light Requirements: Chives require full sun or about 6 – 8 hours of sun a day, however they can tolerate partial shade.
Soil Requirements: Prefers loamy well-drained soil, but chives can also grow well in amended clay soils. Chives like slightly acidic to neutral pH. The soil pH range of 6 to 7 is ideal.
Water Requirements: Chives like moist soil. Water deep and do not let the soil get dry.
Apply a couple inches of mulch around chives to help keep the soil moist.
When to Harvest Chives
Chives take 60 days from seed to harvest. Depending on when they were planted you could harvest chives December through April.