When to Plant Chives in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Sow March to July. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is March.

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

This Chives guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne 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.

Planting Calendar for Tropical

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

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical 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: 21.4°C (optimal range: 10–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant

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

How to Grow Chives in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

Plant Mar-Sep (dry season). May go semi-dormant in wet season heat. Year-round in elevated areas.

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

Tropical Growing Tips for Chives

Recommended Varieties

  • Common chives
  • Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum), even more heat tolerant

Key Challenges

  • Heat stress above 35C
  • Rust in humid conditions
  • May need rest period in wet season

Pro Tips

  • Garlic chives outperform common chives in tropics
  • Morning sun, afternoon shade
  • Cut back hard before wet season and let reshoot

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.

Where to next

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

Also worth sowing in the tropical zone this September: Lemongrass, Ginger, Cucumber and Basil.

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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 Cairns?

No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Mar to Jul. 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.