When to Plant Chives in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Sow September to April. Right now in October you can sow.

Planting window
A clumping perennial that dies back in winter and regrows each spring. Divide old clumps in spring or autumn.
Days to harvest
60 days
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade. Tolerates more shade than most herbs.
Water needs
Regular watering, especially in pots. Tolerates some drought but leaves become tough and...
Spacing
15cm apart, 25cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.0

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Chives guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Chives

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

One of the most reliable and forgiving herbs in the Australian garden. Perennial clumping herb with mild onion-flavoured hollow leaves and edible purple pompom flowers. Grows in all 7 Australian zones with minimal fuss. Excellent border plant and companion for roses and fruit trees.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
S/T/D S/T/D S/T T - - - - S/T S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Chives sowing time in Melbourne?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Chives included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 14.9°C (optimal range: 10–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Chives in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

A clumping perennial that dies back in winter and regrows each spring. Divide old clumps in spring or autumn.

Soil
Rich, well-drained soil with compost. Tolerates most soil types.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade. Tolerates more shade than most herbs.
Spacing
15cm apart, 25cm between rows
Watering
Regular watering, especially in pots. Tolerates some drought but leaves become tough and hollow when stressed. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Companion plants: Rose, Tomato, Carrot, Apple tree, Grape vine

Avoid planting near: Beans, Peas

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Chives

Recommended Varieties

  • Common chives
  • Garlic chives

Key Challenges

  • Winter dormancy, looks dead but isn't
  • Slow spring start

Pro Tips

  • Mulch crowns in winter
  • Divide in early spring as shoots emerge
  • Perfectly suited to this zone

Harvesting Chives

When ready: Harvest when leaves are 15cm+ tall. Use scissors to cut to 2-3cm above soil level.

How to harvest: Cut entire clump to 2-3cm with sharp scissors. Leaves regrow in 2-3 weeks. Do not pick individual leaves. Cutting the whole clump promotes even regrowth.

Common Chives Pests in Cool Temperate Zones

Fungal Spots and Aphids, risk: LOW (score: 31/100)

Organic prevention (Aphids (Onion aphid)): Good air circulation. Avoid overwatering. Healthy plants resist aphids.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

What chives costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this October: Beetroot, Chilli Peppers, Cucumber and Sweet Corn.

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Common Questions About Chives

When do you plant chives in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does chives grow all year round in Melbourne?

No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Apr, Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.