Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) are a perennial herb in the onion family native to China. The plants grow in clumps and produce flat, grass-like leaves and small, white, star-shaped flowers. The leaves and stalks have a mild garlic flavor and are often used in Chinese cuisine. Garlic chives are easy to grow, requiring full sun and moist, well-draining soil. They are cold-hardy and can even survive temperatures down to -20°F. They are also deer and rabbit resistant, making them a great choice for gardeners in areas with these animals.
Planning Your Garden With Garlic Chives
As you plan your garden, it's important to think about the spacing, size, light, and nutrient requirements of all of your plant and how they'll grow together.
Some plants require more water than others, while other plants require dry soil. At the same time, some plants prefer full sun, and other plants need the shade to survive.
By studying what each plant requires and planning ahead where all of your plants will grow best, you can optimize your garden space.
| Life Cycle | Garlic chives are perennial. |
| USDA Zone | Garlic chives are hardy in USDA Zones 3-9. |
| Cold Tolerance | Garlic chives are tolerant of temperatures as low as 20. |
| Days to harvest | Garlic chives typically take around 60-90 days to reach maturity and be ready for harvest. |
| Average size | The average size of a full grown garlic chive plant is between 12 and 18 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. |
| Spacing requirements | Garlic chives grow best when planted in a sunny location with 12 to 15 inches of spacing between each plant. |
| Sun tolerance | Garlic chives are considered to be a full sun plant, meaning they can tolerate 8 or more hours of direct sunlight per day. |
| Shade tolerance | Garlic chives are considered to be a full sun plant, but they can also tolerate some light shade. |
| Water requirements | Garlic chives grow best in moist, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. They require about 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or supplemental irrigation. During the dry summer months, it may be necessary to increase the amount of water to ensure that the soil stays moist. |
| Fertilizer | The amount of fertilizer you should use when growing garlic chives depends on the type of fertilizer you are using and the soil conditions. Generally, a balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 is recommended. Apply the fertilizer at a rate of 1/2 to 1 pound per 100 square feet of soil. |
| Soil pH | The optimum pH for growing garlic chives is 6.0 to 7.0. |
Why Garlic Chives are Popular
People like to grow garlic chives because they are easy to grow, require minimal maintenance, and are a versatile culinary herb with a mild garlic flavor. They can be used fresh or dried in a variety of dishes, and their beautiful, bright green foliage is a great addition to any garden. In addition, garlic chives are known to have many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
Companion Plants For Garlic Chives
Companion planting is a great way to maximize your garden space and get the most out of your plants. By planting certain plants together, you can help each other thrive. In some cases, you can even help each other repel pests.
Popular companion plants for garlic chives include:
Common Pests For Garlic Chives
Plant pests are a common problem for gardeners. By understanding what pests are common for your plants, you can take steps to prevent them from damaging your plants.
When you grow garlic chives, keep an eye out for these common pests:
- snails
- thrips
- slugs
- aphids
- whiteflies
- spider mites
USDA Zones
USDA zones are a popular way of determining which plants can grow in your area. Zones tell you when your average first and last frost date are, as well as how cold you can expect it to get in the winter.
Our site works best if you choose your zone from the list below. If you do not know your USDA zone, then you can use our zone map.
