When to plant Chives
Calendar windows
Dates shift with your latitude — they are calculated from your local last-spring-frost date, not from a fixed calendar.
At a glance
Overwinters outdoors in a temperate garden.
Practical notes
The easiest perennial herb there is, and the first green thing in the spring garden. Split the clump every third spring — congested clumps thin out and flower instead of leafing.
Knowing when to pick
Cut whole leaves 3 cm above the ground with scissors, never snip the tips — tipped chives brown off. The flowers are edible and make a fine pink vinegar.
Storing the crop
A few days in the fridge. Chop and freeze flat in a bag — chives are one of the herbs that keeps its bite frozen but loses it dried.
Crop rotation
Leave 3 years between allium crops — white rot builds up quietly and is permanent.
Grows well with
Keep apart from
Watch for
Full guide: chives diseases and pests (3) → with spread routes, compost verdicts and the prevention this list justifies.