When to Plant Chives in Perth, Mediterranean Guide

Sow March to May and August to October. Right now in October you can sow.

Planting window
A clumping perennial. Sow or divide clumps in autumn or spring; growth slows in the hottest weeks.
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 Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs

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 Mediterranean

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - D D ✓ - - ✓ D D - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Mediterranean 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: 16.9°C (optimal range: 10–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant

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

What this month normally looks like

In October the Mediterranean zone normally runs 22°C by day and 10°C overnight, with about 38 mm of rain over 6 or 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 19 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Chives in Mediterranean Australia

When to Plant

A clumping perennial. Sow or divide clumps in autumn or spring; growth slows in the hottest weeks.

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

Mediterranean Growing Tips for Chives

Recommended Varieties

  • Common chives
  • Garlic chives
  • Fine-leaved chives

Key Challenges

  • Summer heat and dry
  • May go dormant in dry summers without irrigation

Pro Tips

  • Keep watered through summer for year-round harvest
  • Excellent in this climate with minimal care

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 Mediterranean Zones

Fungal Spots and Aphids, risk: LOW (score: 28/100)

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 mediterranean zone this October: Lemongrass, Radish, Zucchini and Beetroot.

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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 Perth?

No. In the Mediterranean zone the planting months are Mar to May, Aug to Oct. 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 Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.