When to plant chives in Goldendale, WA

Plant chives in the garden in Goldendale Apr 21 – Jun 16, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Feb 24 – Mar 10.

Easy Plant seeds or young plants

Why these dates

Goldendale's typical last spring frost is May 19. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.

Inland Northwest. Higher, colder interior valleys. Cold springs and an earlier fall mean a shorter season; quick-maturing varieties pay off.

Start seeds indoors Feb 24 – Mar 10 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
Plant them in the garden Apr 21 – Jun 16, 8 to 12 inches apart. If you plant seeds instead, sow them ¼ inch deep.
Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
Harvest: Snip leaves an inch above the soil whenever you need them. The purple flowers are edible too.

Few pests. Clumps get crowded after a few years; dig and divide them in spring.

A tough perennial that comes back every spring. Divide clumps every few years.

When is the last frost in Goldendale, WA?

Typically May 19. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 9. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Goldendale.

Is it too late to plant chives in Goldendale?

The spring planting window runs through June 16. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.

When should I start chives from seed indoors in Goldendale?

February 24 to March 10, which is 8 to 6 weeks before the April 21 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.