How to grow garlic chives in a raised bed

Garlic chives (Chinese chives) give you a gentle garlic flavour from flat, strappy leaves, plus pretty, edible white flowers. Hardy and perennial, they're a set-and-forget herb for a raised bed.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun to part shade
• Spacing: 15–20 cm clumps
• Tub depth: our 23 cm depth
• Time to harvest: 10–12 weeks, then for years

When to plant: Garlic chives are a hardy perennial — plant in spring or autumn and enjoy them for years. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

Growing it in a raised bed: Plant into rich, moist mix. They spread by seed if you let the flowers set, so snip the flower heads if you want to keep them contained.

Watering and feeding: Keep the mix evenly moist for tender leaves; not fussy once established.

Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids and thrips — though most herbs are pleasingly pest-resistant. See our safe pest guide.

Common problems: the main one to watch is rust, usually from damp, crowded conditions. Good airflow and morning watering prevent most.

Companion plants: A useful companion said to deter pests; the flowers are loved by bees and hoverflies. See our companion planting guide.

Harvest and storage: Cut the flat leaves at the base as you need them; use the flowers too. Best fresh in stir-fries and dumplings.

More growing guides: chives, spring onions and coriander.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Fumikas Sagisavas, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.