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← How to grow chives
Planting Calendar · Zone 3A

When to plant chives in zone 3a

In USDA zone 3a, start chives seeds indoors around Apr 4, transplant outdoors May 16, and harvest from Jul 15.

We don’t publish a planting calendar for zone 3a, because every date on one would be counted from a last-frost date this zone doesn’t reliably have. Chives takes about 60–80 days from sowing to first picking, and that part holds anywhere. For real dates, tell us where you are below and Garzed reads ten years of weather at your own coordinates.

Why these dates work in zone 3a

Zone 3a's last spring frost averages May 30 and first fall frost Sep 10 — about 103 frost-free days. Chives tolerates light frost, so you can sow ahead of the last-frost date and keep harvesting into the cooler fall. Starting seeds indoors 8 weeks ahead gives strong transplants ready the moment the soil warms. One caveat: we haven't yet checked zone 3a against the weather archive, so those frost dates are an inherited estimate rather than a measurement. Give Garzed your location and it works from that location's own ten-year record instead.

Common questions

How long does chives take to grow in zone 3a?

Chives matures in about 60–80 days from sowing. In zone 3a that means sowing around May 16 and first picking around Jul 15.

Will chives survive frost in zone 3a?

Yes — chives tolerates light frost. In zone 3a you can sow a little before the last frost (around May 30) and keep harvesting past the first fall frost (around Sep 10).

For soil, spacing, pests and companion planting, see the full chives growing guide →