Planting timing
When to plant chives
Plant chives on the cited sheets — not on a national calendar month. Start methods stay source-specific.
Growing guidance is general information. Timing, spacing, and care depend on cultivar, weather, soil, and local conditions. Check the sources and adjust the plan for your garden.
Dates stay on the named cards below — not one planting window.
Perennial and clump notes live on the chives hub. Timing stays on the cited sheets.
Perennial and clump notes live on how to grow chives.
What the sources say — at a glance
One source per card. Facts are not averaged.
Illinois Extension (Illinois)
Divide clumps in early spring. Seed sown in spring.
Details and limits (3)
When
Illinois Extension (Illinois): propagated by dividing the clumps in early spring. Clumps should contain about 4–6 bulbs. They can also be grown from seed sown in spring. Start method.
When
Illinois Extension (Illinois): divide chives every 2–3 years. Method.
Limit
Illinois herbs chives page. Start method only — not harvest.
Maryland Extension (Maryland)
Seed or transplants in spring. 12 inches. Divide every three years.
Details and limits (4)
When
Maryland Extension (Maryland): started from seed or grown from transplants in spring in full sun and well-drained soil. Start method.
When
Maryland Extension (Maryland): leave 12 inches between rows and plants. Spacing on their sheet — not a BioArva grid.
When
Maryland Extension (Maryland): divide plants every three years in the spring. Method.
Limit
Maryland chives page. Start method and spacing only — not harvest.
University of Minnesota Extension (Minnesota)
Rooted clumps after frost. Divide every three to four years.
Details and limits (2)
When
University of Minnesota Extension (Minnesota): planting rooted clumps in spring after frost danger has passed. Divide established plants every three to four years. Space plants 6 to 12 inches apart. Timing and spacing on their sheet — not a national plant date.
Limit
Minnesota growing-chives page. Timing and spacing only — not harvest.
Clemson HGIC (South Carolina)
Seed or transplants in full sun.
Details and limits (2)
When
Clemson HGIC (South Carolina): grown from seed or transplants in full sun. Start method.
Limit
South Carolina combined herbs sheet. Chives start method only — not harvest.
Sources differ
Make it yours
Save the bed in the Field Book so next season is not a guess.
Verified suppliers only
No supplier on this page
When a partner is listed, it will be outbound and disclosed. Nothing to buy here. Fertilizer, soils, and pesticides stay off this slot.
What to record in the Field Book
Save the bed with the crop and the date. You may add a photo and notes. Compare entries you have recorded with each other — not with a diagnosis from this page. If you want an identification, bring the record to local Extension.
How we know — methodology. Ranges and assertions are cited per source, not blended.