Chives in Zone 10a & 10b
Allium schoenoprasum
Yes, chives grow in zones 10a and 10b. Start seeds indoors in Aug–Feb and plant out in Oct–Apr. For a fall crop, start seeds indoors in Aug–Feb and plant out in Oct–Apr.
When to plant chives in zone 10b
Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. In your zone it needs a head start on the heat that direct-sowing elsewhere doesn't require.
| Window | Fall window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Aug–Feb |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Oct–Apr |
| Estimated harvest | ~60 days after transplanting |
Spacing: 9 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Zone 10b dates sourced from growinginthegarden.com.
Fall window: the last sowing date is the average first frost minus days to maturity, the method in Purdue Extension's fall garden guide, which lists chives for late-summer planting.
Plant alongside it in zone 10b
These go outside within two weeks of chives in zone 10b, so one planting day can cover them.
Chives are the easiest allium in the garden, a perennial clump that comes back every spring, tolerates cold well, and asks for almost nothing once it's established.
How chives fit zone 10's season
Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Chives need about 60 days from sowing to first harvest.
Chives planting windows in every zone
Zone 10b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b | Apr 4–Apr 11 | May 16–May 23 | Jul 15–Jul 22 |
| 4a & 4b | Mar 20–Mar 27 | May 1–May 8 | Jun 30–Jul 7 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 15–Mar 22 | Apr 26–May 3 | Jun 25–Jul 2 |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | Jun 10–Jun 17 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 13–Feb 20 | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 26–Jun 2 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 11–Mar 18 | May 10–May 17 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 21–Dec 28 | Feb 1–Feb 8 | Apr 2–Apr 9 |
| 10a & 10bFall window (your zone) | Aug–Feb | Oct–Apr | ~60 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 60 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
- Carrot: Same allium/carrot pest-masking effect measured for onion and carrot (Uvah & Coaker 1984): a real, peer-reviewed field study, not folklore.
Where to buy chive seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's chive seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing chives" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 10b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Chives in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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