Cannot Grow Chives

[Aunty Social]

Everyone says chives are easy to grow but like rocket I can't seem to get any that grow thicker than ... well, grass is thicker than my chives.

I have sunny windowsills, partially-sunny windowsills, all sorts. Follow packet instructions to the t. No luck.

Is there a secret I'm missing?

Thank you in advance.

[SarrissUK]

I'm not great at them either, nor parsley, but they've done best in shade strangely enough. I have a problem getting them to germinate usually, but this week I've managed to get garlic chives to germinate, so I'm gonna bung some of them outside, in the shade, some in the sun, and some indoors

[veggiechicken]

The easiest way with chives is to buy a pot from the supermarket; split the pot into 4 and plant each one up separately.

[Nicos]

^^^snap!
I also then plant them out in various locations in the garden each with different shade/sun/rain exposure and find some do better than others.
They come back year after year too

[fishpond]

My Chives and garlic chives are shaded by a bay tree and pear tree for most of the day-so I would suggest partial shade--sun in the morning.
Do not forget to feed.

[Bren In Pots]

The best chives in my garden are growing in 2 inch of soil/compost in an old stone sink and like Fishponds they get morning sun.
I'd go with VC's and Nicos of idea of buying a pot then splitting them.

[Greenleaves]

Mine live in full sun quite happily, as VC and Nicos mine started as potted supermarket plants

[annie8]

You’re not alone, I can’t grow them either. Given up to be honest. Tried from seed with no success and from a plant with very limited success. Might try again at some point in my new front garden but I struggle growing any herbs from seed apart from basil.

[Thelma Sanders]

I wonder why people are having trouble with them? I managed to grow a few from seed and planted them out in the garden, years ago - they've self seeded in a few other places now. I wonder if they prefer soil rather than this modern, clumpy, compost we buy..

[annie8]

I tried planting as a plant in a raised bed after trying in the greenhouse. Not much better. Other herbs like sage and parsley were better like that though.

[burnie]

I sowed some garlic chives last year in a pot, they were very thin, I left them in the greenhouse over winter and they are growing now and look quite strong, maybe they need time?

[Snoop Puss]

Another vote on the buy a plant and split. Better still, buy two plants and leave one untouched. No splitting, no snipping, no nothing. Apparently, they like being left alone for a year. I followed this advice and it worked.

[bramble]

My garlic chives grow in the open ground in the sun.
Dug them up last year and split them.
They are growing really well again.

Just sowed some new ones two weeks ago for my daughter and they have all germinated.
They are in modules in the greenhouse.

[annie8]

Well I have a small clump in the raised bed that looks like grass. Will leave and you never know it might start growing again.