Garlic Chives
Garlic Chives: 80-90 days to harvest, 14-21 days to germinate, 6-8 inches between plants, pH 6.0-7.0, hardy in zones 3-9. Fruit runs to about Leaves 12-18 inches long, 1/4 inch wide. Give it full sun (6+ hours) and moderate, drought tolerant once established water. It will crop in a container.
Sowing
Direct sow in spring after last frost or start indoors 6-8 weeks earlier. Can also divide established clumps.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- Moderate, drought tolerant once established
- Soil
- Well-drained soil, tolerates various soil types
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 6-8 inches
- Height
- 6-4 inches
- Season
- Perennial
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Dark green flat leaves, white flowers
- Size
- Leaves 12-18 inches long, 1/4 inch wide
- Shape
- Flat, strap-like leaves in clumps
- Flavour
- Mild garlic flavor, more delicate than regular garlic
In the kitchen
Asian stir-fries, soups, dumplings, omelets. Flowers are edible. Leaves can be used fresh or dried.
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Aphids, thrips (rarely problematic)
- Diseases
- Root rot in poorly drained soil
- Resistance
- Generally disease-free, very hardy
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | June – July | August – September |
| 2 | — | — | May – July | August – September |
| 3 | — | — | May – June | July – October |
| 4 | — | — | April – June | July – October |
| 5 | — | — | April – May | July – November |
| 6 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| 7 | — | — | March – May | June – November |
| 8 | — | — | March – April | May – December |
| 9 | — | — | February – March | April – December |
| 10 | — | — | January – March | April – December |
| 11 | — | — | January – February | March – December |
| 12 | — | — | January – February | March – December |
| 13 | — | — | January – February | March – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 143
- Protein (g)
- 6.62
- Fat (g)
- 0.38
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 28.2
- Fibre (g)
- 2.7
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 10
- Selenium (µg)
- 9.8
Where to buy seed and equipment
Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Garlic Chives?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other alliums with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Garlic Chives suits these too.
- Red Carpet Chives 75 days
- Common Chives 75 days
- King Richard 75 days
- Giant Red Beard 90 days
- French Gray Shallot 90 days
- Purple de Lautrec Shallot 90 days