Rainline Garden

When to plant chives in Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA

Plant chives in the garden in Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland) Apr 1 – May 27, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Feb 4–18.

Easy Plant seeds or young plants

Why these dates

Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland)'s typical last spring frost is April 27. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about April 1.

Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys. Hot, dry summers and quick spring warm-up. Warm crops go in earlier than west of the Cascades, and irrigation matters more than rain.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Spacing
8 to 12 inches apart
Planting depth
¼ inch deep
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
About 60 days after planting

Step by step

  1. Start seeds indoors Feb 4–18 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.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden Apr 1 – May 27, 8 to 12 inches apart. If you plant seeds instead, sow them ¼ inch deep.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Harvest: Snip leaves an inch above the soil whenever you need them. The purple flowers are edible too.

Varieties that do well here

  • Common chives
  • Garlic chives
  • Staro

Watch out for

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.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA?

Typically April 27. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 10. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Pasco Tri-Cities Airport.

Is it too late to plant chives in Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland)?

The spring planting window runs through May 27. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.

When should I start chives from seed indoors in Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland)?

February 4 to February 18, which is 8 to 6 weeks before the April 1 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland) around the same time

Planting dates for chives in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland) · Chives in every city