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Chives growing

Cool-season produce

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Also known as Common chives

Keep roots mulched and give afternoon shade as the weather warms. Garlic chives are a distinct species but share this cool-season herb role.

EdibleCool-season crop
Growing spaceVegetable bed
Climate fitUrban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b
Crop familyAmaryllidaceae (allium)
Life cyclePerennial herb, often stressed by Phoenix summer heat
Phoenix planting windowOctober–November or February–April for establishment.
How to plantSow seed or divide/transplant a clump.
Plant spacing6–8 in clumps
FrostTolerates light frost once established; cover during a hard freeze.
Time to harvestClip established leaves as needed; no fixed maturity in the local herb guide
SuccessionDivide established clumps rather than resowing frequently.
Special categoriesEDIBLE
Typical harvestClip leaves through the mild season.

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Cold hardinessHardy here

Cold hardy perennial. It can die back in a cold snap and regrow.

Heat toleranceShade from late-afternoon sun

A perennial that survives Phoenix summers but slows down and looks tired in the heat. Afternoon shade helps.

Sources: extension.arizona.edu

Right plant, right place

Will Chives grow at your Arizona property?

Keep roots mulched and give afternoon shade as the weather warms. Garlic chives are a distinct species but share this cool-season herb role.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full winter sun; give leafy crops afternoon protection during warm fall and spring weather.

Water

Irrigation

Keep the vegetable root zone evenly moist with regular irrigation; adjust to rain, soil, and temperature rather than using a fixed summer schedule.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Chives thrive

  1. 1

    Prepare a fertile, well-drained bed and keep seed or transplants evenly moist through establishment.

  2. 2

    Thin to the final spacing; crowding reduces harvest quality.

  3. 3

    Watch for aphids and caterpillars and protect sensitive growth from a hard freeze.

  4. 4

    Harvest before sustained spring heat causes bolting or poor quality.

Read the horticultural reference ↗

Read the growing reference ↗ Planting dates can shift with cultivar, weather, and your yard’s microclimate.

Keep exploring

More plants for this system