Are Chives a Perennial?

Perennial

• Chives are a perennial that will grow well in a garden or indoor setting. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone Map recommends zones 3 through 9 for outdoor planting. The plant does best in six to eight hours of full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Choose fairly rich soil with good drainage. Chives grow between 10 to 14 inches tall and have hollow grass-like fronds. Chives produce dainty lavender flowers during June and July. Chives are a member of the onion family, but have a milder taste.

Fertilizer

• Perennials will deplete the soil of nutrients overtime. Replenish the soil when the plant shows sign of weakening from continued reproduction. Apply a light application of 5-10-5 fertilizer in the spring for chives being grown outdoors. Chives grown in containers outdoors or inside will benefit from a small dose of liquid fertilizer. Use half the strength recommended on the label once every four to six weeks for an added boost. Avoid adding too much fertilizer to the soil to stimulate faster growth. Chives will produce a stronger flavor and be healthier when their growth is slow.

Transplanting

• Divide established plants every three to four years to keep the perennial from over-crowding. Separate the chives in their clumps after the danger of frost is over. Replant the clumps in soil that is supplemented with compost or a mix of fertilizer. Space the chives 6 to 12 inches apart in a hole large enough to cover the roots. Keep the ground moist so the roots do not dry out. Retain the moisture in the soil with a ground cover of mulch or grass clippings. Carrots and chives are excellent companions in a vegetable garden and carrots will grow larger when grown beside chives.

Harvest

• Snip the leaves 2 inches from the base of the plant when the plant is 6 inches tall and the flowers are finished blooming. The 2 inches at the base allow the plant to keep growing. Use the cut leaves immediately after cutting for maximum taste. Unused leaves will store for several months in the freezer when wrapped tightly to prevent freezer burn. The texture of the plant will change but the flavor will remain. Chives do not retain their flavor when dried.