When Should You Plant Chives?
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GardenSays
Transplant chives once frost danger is past and soil has warmed — in Minneapolis, MN, typically May 5 – May 19.
- Transplant outside
- May 5 – May 19
- Last frost (typ.)
- May 5
- First fall frost
- Oct 5
In Minneapolis, MN, the typical last frost lands around May 5. Garden centers stock transplants well before it's actually safe to plant them. Chives are cold-hardy, so wait for two conditions — frost danger past AND soil warmed — which here typically means May 5-May 19.
- This year's transplant window (May 5 – May 19) has passed — dates shown are for planning next season.
Do this this week
- 1.Passed for this season — plan next spring: start seeds indoors ~Mar 24 – Apr 7, transplant ~May 5 – May 19
Calculated result · 3 verified sources · Checked 2026-07-18 · How we decide
Why
That leaves roughly 139 days of growing season before the typical first fall frost (Oct 5) — enough for most varieties. In a short-season area, favor early-maturing varieties (check the days-to-maturity on the tag).
- Frost kills tender seedlings outright, and cold soil stunts them even without frost — both dates matter.
- The 50% frost date is a planning midpoint: a late frost is still possible, so keep covers handy for the first two weeks.
When this doesn't apply
- Grown from rooted clumps/divisions, not typically seed. UMN says 'after frost danger has passed' without a precise day count — the 0-14 day window is our estimate for how soon after last frost that's usually safe for a cold-hardy perennial, not a directly quoted figure.
- Season extenders (row covers, walls of water, cold frames) let you plant 2-3 weeks earlier than these windows.
- Frost dates are area averages — low spots and valley floors run colder than the local average.
How this was calculated
- 1. Last spring frostMay 5Source guidance
Minneapolis, MN: typical (50% probability) last 32°F frost
- 2. Seed starting windowMar 24 – Apr 7Calculated result
Chives: start indoors 4-6 weeks before your typical transplant date
- 3. Transplant windowMay 5 – May 19Calculated result
Chives is cold-hardy: go out 0-14 days after the last frost, once soil has warmed
- 4. First fall frostOct 5Source guidance
Minneapolis, MN: typical first 32°F frost in fall — the season's endpoint
Data sources
- University of Minnesota Extension — Growing chives in home gardens — The easiest and most successful way of growing chives is planting rooted clumps in spring after frost danger has passed. Space plants 6-12 inches apart. Full sun to light shade, 6-8 hours best. Cold-hardy clump-forming perennial. (checked 2026-07-18)
- NOAA NCEI — 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals (freeze date probabilities) (checked 2026-07-15)
- National Gardening Association — frost date lookup (checked 2026-07-15)
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People also ask
When are chives ready to harvest?
Harvest chives when leaves are 6+ inches tall — snip anytime after that; cut flower stalks off at the soil line once blooms finish to keep the plant productive — watch the plant, not the calendar. Calculate yours →
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