Onion Chives

Onion Chives, a delightful herb featuring elegant slender, hollow leaves with a fresh and mild onion flavor that are perfect for garnishing and adding flavor to meals. Their versatility in the kitchen makes them an essential herb for any home cook, whether used in salads, soups, or as a topping for baked potatoes. They are also delicious herbs to add in scrambled eggs, eggs benedicts, quiches, and also to dried to use as seasoning. Onion Chives grow edible purple chive blossoms and will regrow after cutting for decades. They are easy to grow in both garden beds and containers, making them ideal for urban gardeners with limited space. Onion Chives can also be used for an attractive perennial border or edging for flower beds and herb gardens. These hardy plants thrive in full sun, tolerating a wide range of soil types, and they can be harvested multiple times throughout the growing season. Their crisp texture and unique taste are sure to elevate your culinary creations while providing a healthy dose of vitamins A and C.

Also Known As: Chive, Scallion Chives, Allium Schoenoprasum, Common Chives, Garden Chives, Wild Chives, Chive Greens, Onion Greens, Chinese Chives, Leek Chives.

Plant Name:	Chives, Onion
Latin Name:	Allium schoenoprasum
Days to Germinate:	7-14
Days to Harvest:	80
Plant Height:	8 -12 Inches
Spread:	6 -12 Inches
Growth Habit:	Clumping
USDA Zones:	3-9
Lifespan:	Perennial
Brand:	TomorrowSeeds
Sunlight:	Full Sun, Partial Shade
Pollination:	Heirloom, Open-Pollinated
GMO:	No
Fungicide-Treated Seeds*:	No
Seeds Packed For**:	2025

*Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds.
**Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.

Planting Instructions:

Soil Preparation:

Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots.

Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth.

Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 12 inches apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage.

Planting:

Chives grows best in cool weather, thriving in 60F-70F soil temperatures. Plant Chives in the spring as soon as the soil can be worked, about 2-4 weeks before the last frost in spring. Optionally, start Chives indoors 8 weeks before the last frost in Spring. Harden off, then divide clumps 6 inches apart outdoors when the soil reaches 55F. For fall crops, direct sow seeds outdoors at least 4 weeks before the first frost. Established Chives can be mulched and overwintered. To plant, make holes 1/4 inch deep and spaced 6 inches apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 5 seeds per hole. Cover seeds thinly with soil and water after planting. Or, broadcast seeds and separate clumps to the desired spacing when seedlings come up. If you want a continuous supply throughout the fall, you can sow seeds every 2-3 weeks.

Planting Depth:	1/4 inch
Within-Row Spacing:	6 inches
Between-Row Spacing:	12-18 inches

Care During the Season:

Watering: Water the plants, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once a week. If there is no rainfall, water 2 times a week. Sandy soils may need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils.

Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig to deeply to prevent from cutting the feeder roots.

Fertilizing: Once plants are established, you may optionally apply a light or diluted dressing of a complete fertilizer once a month during the growing season, without letting the fertilizer touch the plants. Water plants after fertilizing.

Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions.

Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions.

Harvesting:

Onion Chives are best harvested when leaves are 8-10 inches long, and the plants are established, around 60-90 days after planting. Use sharp scissors or a knife to cut the leaves about 1-2 inches above the base, leaving the plant's base intact to allow for regrowth. You can harvest the leaves repeatedly throughout the growing season, typically every 3-4 weeks, as garlic chives are fast-growing and will continue to produce new leaves. If harvesting the flower buds, do so just before they fully open, as they are tender and flavorful at this stage. Avoid harvesting more than one-third of the plant at a time to ensure continued growth and vigor. Regular harvesting encourages bushier growth and prevents the plant from becoming overly woody or tough.