Chives in Zone 6A — Midwest

Chives are a fantastic addition to any Midwest garden. Their mild onion flavor adds a fresh zing to everything from summer salads to baked potatoes, and their pretty purple flowers attract pollinators. Plus, they're incredibly easy to grow in our fertile soil, offering a rewarding harvest all season long.

While Midwest weather can be unpredictable, especially with our variable springs and occasional summer heat spells, chives are pretty resilient. With a little attention to timing and watering, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest throughout our 178-day growing season.

Starting chives indoors gives you a head start, but it's honestly not always necessary in the Midwest. If you're eager to get going, sow seeds indoors from early to late February, about eight weeks before you plan to transplant.

Use seed trays or small pots filled with a good seed-starting mix. Keep the soil consistently moist by bottom watering, providing warmth, and ensuring plenty of light. Remember our springs can be moderate-to-late, so starting indoors is really for those who want the absolute earliest harvest.

Transplant your chives seedlings outdoors from early April through early May, once the danger of a hard frost has passed. Before planting, harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and space the plants 8-12 inches apart. Keep an eye on the weather; a late frost is always possible, so be ready to cover your young plants if needed. Remember, you can always buy established plants or divide existing clumps – often faster than starting from seed.

Direct sowing chives is a straightforward option in the Midwest. Sow seeds directly into your garden from late March through mid July.

Prepare the soil by loosening it and removing any large clumps. Make sure the soil temperature is consistently above 50°F (10°C) for best germination. Space seeds about 8-12 inches apart. Be patient – chives can be slow to establish from seed, so consider divisions or starts for a quicker harvest.

Chives thrive with moderate and consistent watering, crucial for our Midwest climate. While we get decent rainfall, those summer heat spells can dry things out quickly.

During the spring and fall, when temperatures are milder, check the soil moisture with the finger test – if the top two inches feel dry, it's time to water. In the heat of summer, you might need to water a couple of times a week, providing about an inch of water each time. Water at the base of the plants to avoid wetting the foliage, which can encourage fungal diseases in our moderate-to-humid environment.

Signs of underwatering include wilting or yellowing leaves, while overwatering can lead to root rot. A good layer of mulch around your chives helps retain moisture and keep the soil cool, especially during those summer heat spells.

You can expect your first chives harvest from mid June through late October in the Midwest. Look for leaves that are at least 6 inches tall.

To harvest, simply snip the leaves about 1-2 inches above the base of the plant. This encourages new growth and keeps your chives producing all season long. Harvest regularly to prevent the plants from flowering, which can diminish the flavor of the leaves.

As the first frost approaches in mid- October, give your chives a final trim. You can either let them die back naturally over the winter, or dig up a few clumps to overwinter indoors for fresh chives throughout the colder months. Every three years, divide your chive clumps to maintain their vigor.

Here are three common problems you might encounter with chives in the Midwest:

Onion Fly

• What it looks like: Seedlings wilt and die, or mature plants have stunted growth. You might find small, white maggots near the base of the plant.
• What causes it: Onion flies lay their eggs near the base of onion-family plants. The maggots hatch and feed on the roots and bulbs.
• How to fix/prevent it: Use row covers to prevent flies from laying eggs. Rotate crops regularly. Introduce beneficial nematodes to the soil.

Rust

• What it looks like: Rusty orange, yellow, or brown pustules on leaves and stems, mostly on undersides. Leaves yellow and drop prematurely.
• What causes it: Various rust fungi that spread via wind-borne spores. Favored by warm, humid conditions with moisture on leaves.
• How to fix/prevent it: Remove affected leaves. Avoid overhead watering. Improve air circulation. Apply sulfur or copper fungicide. Don't work among wet plants. Rotate crops.

Bulb Rot in Wet Soil

• What it looks like: Yellowing or wilting leaves, mushy bulbs, and a foul odor coming from the soil.
• What causes it: Overwatering and poorly draining soil create conditions that favor fungal and bacterial pathogens.
• How to fix/prevent it: Ensure your soil is well-draining. Avoid overwatering. Improve soil drainage by adding compost or other organic matter.

Midwest Specific Challenges: Our moderate-to-hot summers, combined with moderate-to-humid conditions and wet-summer rainfall, can create ideal conditions for fungal diseases like rust and bulb rot. Proper watering practices, good air circulation, and well-draining soil are key to keeping your chives healthy in the Midwest.

Chives make great companions for many plants in your Midwest garden. Plant them near carrots to deter carrot root flies. They also benefit tomatoes by repelling aphids and other pests. Roses love chives because they help deter black spot. Grapes benefit from chives as well, helping to prevent downy mildew.

Avoid planting chives near beans-green or peas, as they can inhibit their growth.