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You know you are in heaven when you have fresh chives at hand to adorn meats and cheeses, season breads and soups, or simply add their fresh, lightly oniony flavor to a salad. Chives are an essential part of any culinary garden and dry wonderfully for winter use. If you are planning a kitchen garden and wondering what to grow near chives, wonder no more. There are a host of perfect chive plant companions for texture, color, and flavor.
Chives are a versatile herb that can provide a punch of oniony flavor to dishes ranging from omelets to baked potatoes. With their grass-like leaves and purple blossoms, they are also an attractive addition to flower beds and herb gardens.
When planted in the right spot and paired with beneficial companion plants, chives will thrive and continue producing their flavorful leaves year after year. Read on to learn about the best and worst companions for chives so you can optimize their growth and productivity.
Why Companion Planting Matters for Chives
Companion planting is the practice of strategically planting different crops together so they can benefit from each other, The right companions can help chives by
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Attracting beneficial insects that prey on pests like thrips, aphids, and onion maggots.
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Repelling pests that can damage chives with their pungent aroma and nectar-rich flowers.
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Providing physical support or shade.
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Enhancing growth and yields.
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Making efficient use of garden space.
By surrounding chives with plants they like, you can create an environment where both the chives and their companions thrive.
The Best Companion Plants for Chives
Many vegetables, herbs, and flowers make great companions for chives in the garden. Here are some of the best.
1. Carrots
Planting chives near carrots can help mask the scent of the carrots, protecting them from carrot fly pests. Chives may also enhance the flavor of carrots. Allow 8-12 inches between plants.
2. Tomatoes
Chives can improve tomato growth and repel pests like aphids and hornworms. Plus, they make a nice edible garnish! Space chives 12-24 inches from tomatoes.
3. Cabbages
Chives help repel cabbage pests when planted among cabbage family crops. They’re especially good with broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.
4. Grapes
Chives can deter pests, while grapes can provide shade and wind protection. Plus, chives help suppress weeds and retain moisture.
5. Peas
The flowers of chives attract pollinators like bees to benefit pea production. Just don’t plant chives right next to peas.
6. Onions and garlic
Lettuce, spinach, beans, and other shallow-rooted crops do well with the small root systems of chives. They compete less for nutrients.
7. Roses
Chives help repel aphids and black spot fungus. Anecdotal reports say roses bloom better near chives.
8. Marigolds
The pungent scent of marigolds complements chives’ aroma to repel pests. Plus, marigolds attract pollinators.
9. Hyssop
This attractive, bee-friendly herb grows well with chives and may help repel cabbage moths.
10. Nasturtiums
Both the flowers and leaves of nasturtiums are edible. They also deter pests like aphids, beetles, and squash bugs.
Plants to Avoid Growing Near Chives
While chives play nice with many plants, a few companions should be avoided:
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Beans and peas – Chives may inhibit their growth.
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Parsley – Can stunt each other’s development.
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Bushy herbs like sage – May overwhelm chives.
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Large crops like corn or sunflowers – Can shade out chives.
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invasive spreaders like mint – Can take over.
Growing Chives with Companion Plants
Follow these tips to successfully grow chives with their preferred companions:
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Make sure all plants have adequate sunlight, space, water and nutrients.
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Plant chives first since they’re a perennial, then add companion annuals and seedlings around them.
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Use taller companions to provide shade for chives in hot climates.
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Interplant chives throughout vegetable beds and flower gardens.
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Plant marigolds, nasturtiums and other flowers to attract beneficial insects.
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Rotate plant families each season to prevent disease buildup.
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Weed diligently to prevent competition, especially when plants are young.
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Control pests organically if they appear by removing by hand, spraying neem oil or introducing beneficial insects.
Companion Planting Chives in Containers
Don’t have a garden bed? You can still companion plant with chives in pots:
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Choose bushy herbs like thyme or compact vegetables like lettuce or radishes.
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Use a large container or cluster smaller pots together.
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Include trailing plants like nasturtiums or strawberries at the edges.
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Add marigolds, alyssum or other small flowers for color and pollinators.
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Make sure each plant has enough root space and drainage.
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Water when the top inch of soil dries out to prevent drying or rotting.
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Monitor for pests like aphids that may thrive in containers.
Best Companion Planting Combinations for Chives
Some specific combinations that work very well include:
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Chives + carrots + lettuce
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Chives + tomatoes + basil + nasturtiums
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Chives + broccoli + marigolds
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Chives + cabbage + dill
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Chives + grapes + hyssop
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Chives in a herb container with thyme, sage, parsley and flowers
The ideal chive companions will help control pests, attract pollinators, provide shade or ground cover, and enhance the flavor and growth of nearby plants. Avoid pairing chives with plants that compete for space and nutrients or dislike the oniony odor.
With the right companion plants, your chives will produce abundantly for years to come!
How do I start growing chives?
Starting chives in your garden or pot is really straightforward.
You can begin with seeds or small plants.
If using seeds, plant them in well-draining soil in a spot that gets plenty of sunlight.
Chives arent picky about the soil but thrive in a location that gets at least six hours of sunlight daily.
Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Chives are perennials, so once established, theyll return to delight you year after year.
They also dont mind the cold much and will be one of the first herbs to pop up in spring.
To learn more about growing chives, check out my guide: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Chives in Pots.
Companion Planting with Chives
Chives are such attractive plants it is a shame to keep them in the vegetable garden alone. While it may seem that chive plant companions derive much from simply being near the plants, there are other ways chives can be helpful in the garden and home. Dried chive flowers are wonderful in an everlasting bouquet and keep much of their purple color. Mix chives and water in a blender with a little dish soap for a repelling pest spray on most plants and to deter powdery mildew on vegetables. Ornamentally, the chive plant has lively, slender green foliage and those wonderful fluffy flowers, making them perfect to enhance a perennial garden or herbal container. As an added bonus, chives can be cut and come again several times in one season. Dry them or cut them into small pieces and freeze them so you can enjoy them year-round.
How To Grow Chives!
FAQ
What should I not plant next to chives?
| Spices and Herbs | Bad Companion Plants |
|---|---|
| Chives | Beans and peas |
| Cumin | Peas and beans |
| Curry leaves | Eggplants |
| Comfrey | Walnut and eucalyptus trees |
What compliments chives?
Chives are great when sprinkled over scrambled eggs, mixed into soups, dips or sauces. You can make compound butter (flavored butter) that mixes chives, herbs and spices to be used when cooking steak, fish, roasted chicken and vegetables.
Where should I put chives in my garden?
Chives prefer full sun but will produce well in half a day of shade. Tolerant of a wide variety of soils, chives will grow best in well-draining soils high in organic matter, so a shovel full of compost every few years will be appreciated.
What pairs with chives?
Chives Savory, spicy avocados, egg dishes, fish, potatoes, salmon, root vegetables, zucchini basil, cilantro, fennel, parsley, tarragon Chives can be chopped and frozen.