Chives are pretty much the MVP of the herb garden—they’re hardy, versatile, and honestly, no garden feels complete without them. The best part? They’re super low-maintenance and incredibly easy to multiply. If you want to turn one chive plant into two (or more!), I’ve got you covered.
The Best Way to Divide Your Chives
Dividing your chives is hands-down the easiest and most foolproof way to propagate them. The perfect time to do this is in the fall, right after you’ve given them their final trim for the season. Here’s how you do it:
- Gently dig up the entire chive plant.
- Split the root ball right down the middle into two halves. Try to make sure each half has roughly the same amount of trimmed stems.
- Replant both sections in their new spots.
- Give them a good, thorough watering to help them settle in.
I recommend dividing your chives every two years. This gives the plants enough time to establish themselves and grow back nice and strong.
Why Divide Chives Even if You Don’t Need More Plants?
Whether you’re growing chives in a pot or out in the garden bed, dividing them is actually great for their health. Chives are perennials, and with a little TLC, they can live for 20 years or more! Dividing them acts like a “fountain of youth,” rejuvenating the plant so it can reach that ripe old age while staying productive.
Growing Chives from Seed
You can also propagate chives by sowing seeds, as long as you’re using an heirloom (non-hybrid) variety. This is why I always suggest starting with high-quality organic plants rather than hybrids. Chive seeds are dark germinators, meaning they need to be covered to sprout. They’ll pop up in the spring if you give them the right conditions:
- Temperatures below 65°F (18°C)
- Ideally between 35°F and 50°F (1°C to 10°C)
- Planted about 1/2 to 1 inch deep
- Consistently moist soil
- Plenty of space between plants
You should see the first little sprouts in about 14 days. Just make sure to protect those delicate seedlings from heavy rain, frost, and intense midday sun while they’re getting established!
