How Far Apart to Plant Chives
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GardenSays
Your 8×4 ft garden plot fits 30 chives at 9-inch spacing.
- Between plants
- 9 in
- Rows
- 3 @ 15 in
- Total plants
- 30
Chives need 6-12 inches between plants, in rows 12-18 inches apart so you can walk between them. At the 9-inch midpoint, that's 10 per row and 3 rows — 30 plants.
Calculated result · 1 verified source · Checked 2026-07-18 · How we decide
Why
Crowding is the most common spacing mistake: closer planting doesn't add yield, it adds shade, disease pressure, and small fruit. When in doubt, use the wider end of the range.
- Air circulation between mature plants is the cheapest disease prevention there is.
- Roots spread wider than the plant looks in June — spacing is set for August size.
When this doesn't apply
- Compact chives can take the tight end of the range; large or vigorous ones want the wide end.
- Square-foot gardening compresses further than these numbers — it trades yield per plant for yield per bed and needs diligent feeding.
How this was calculated
- 1. In-row spacing9 in
Chives: 6-12 inches between plants (extension guidance); midpoint used
- 2. Row layout10/row × 3 rows
Rows 12-18 inches apart (midpoint 15 in) so you can walk and harvest: 96÷9 per row, 48÷15 rows
- 3. Total30 plants
10 × 3
Data sources
- University of Minnesota Extension — Growing chives in home gardens — Space plants 6 to 12 inches apart. (checked 2026-07-18)
What changes this answer
Layout
Bed length (ft)
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Bed width (ft)
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People also ask
When should I plant chives?
Transplant chives once frost danger is past and soil has warmed — in USDA zone 5, typically May 10 – May 24. Calculate yours →
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