Chives Growing Guide in Kenya

Chives are a perennial herb grown primarily for their tender, hollow green leaves and mild onion-like flavour. The crop belongs to the onion family, but unlike bulb onions, the commercial product is mainly the foliage rather than a large underground bulb. The botanical name of common chives is Allium schoenoprasum L.

For Kenyan farmers, chives can be considered a niche herb rather than a conventional vegetable crop. They are particularly suited to farmers who can supply hotels, restaurants, specialty grocers, supermarkets, caterers and other buyers that require fresh culinary herbs consistently. Production should therefore begin with identifying a market and understanding the buyer’s preferred bunch size, quality, packaging and delivery frequency.

What Are Chives?

Chives are perennial plants that form clumps of narrow, tubular green leaves. They produce attractive purple flowers when allowed to mature, although commercial growers harvesting for leaves generally focus on maintaining vigorous vegetative growth.

The leaves have a delicate onion flavour and are commonly used fresh in salads, soups, sauces, egg dishes, cheese products and as a garnish. FAO’s crop database describes chives as a perennial crop, with shoots potentially harvested around 70–100 days after planting under suitable conditions.

Chives should not be confused with spring onions or Chinese chives. Chinese chives, Allium tuberosum, have flatter leaves and a stronger garlic-like flavour, while common chives have cylindrical, hollow leaves.

Is Chives Farming Suitable for Kenya?

Chives are naturally associated with temperate climates, but FAO notes that the crop can perform well at higher elevations in tropical regions. Cool conditions favour leaf production, while excessive heat can affect the crop’s reproductive behaviour and performance.

This makes cooler and higher-elevation parts of Kenya potentially more suitable for open-field production than very hot lowland areas. However, altitude alone does not determine suitability. Water availability, soil drainage, daytime temperatures, market access and the ability to maintain consistent quality are equally important.

Farmers in warmer areas can still investigate production, particularly where irrigation and suitable microclimates are available, but should first conduct a small trial rather than establishing a large commercial crop.

Climate Requirements for Chives

Chives prefer relatively cool growing conditions with adequate soil moisture. The crop requires moisture throughout its growing period, but waterlogged soils and persistently high humidity can increase disease problems.

In Kenya, farmers should pay particular attention to:

• Temperature and elevation
• Reliable irrigation during dry periods
• Good air circulation
• Drainage during heavy rainfall
• Protection from prolonged waterlogging

Very hot conditions can make production more difficult, especially where the objective is to produce tender, high-quality leaves continuously.

Soil Requirements

Chives perform best in fertile, well-drained soils with good moisture-holding capacity. A deep soil containing adequate organic matter is preferable because the crop repeatedly produces new foliage after harvesting.

Before planting commercially, a soil test is advisable. This provides information on soil pH and nutrient status and is more reliable than applying fertiliser based only on assumptions about the soil.

Heavy soils that remain saturated after rainfall should be improved through drainage, raised beds or another appropriate water-management system. Excess water is particularly undesirable because chives require moisture but do not tolerate poorly drained conditions well.

Propagation of Chives

Chives can be established from seed or by dividing established clumps. For commercial production, the choice depends on the availability and quality of planting material.

Growing Chives From Seed

Seeds can be sown in a nursery or directly into a prepared bed. Nursery establishment allows the farmer to control early-stage moisture, weeds and seedling development more closely.

Because chives form clumps, several seedlings may eventually develop together. Seed should be sourced from a reputable supplier and should be correctly identified as Allium schoenoprasum. This is particularly important because different Allium species can be sold under similar common names.

Propagation by Division

Established chive clumps can be divided into smaller portions and replanted. Vegetative propagation can provide relatively uniform planting material and avoids some of the variability associated with seed-grown plants.

The divisions should contain healthy roots and shoots and should be planted promptly so that they establish before significant moisture loss occurs.

Land Preparation and Planting

Prepare the field thoroughly before planting. Remove perennial weeds and incorporate well-decomposed organic matter where appropriate.

Raised beds can be useful in areas prone to heavy rainfall or poor drainage. They also make irrigation, harvesting and weed management easier.

Avoid burying the planting material excessively. The objective is to establish the roots securely while keeping the growing point at an appropriate depth.

For nursery-raised seedlings, transplant only healthy plants with an established root system. Water immediately after transplanting to reduce establishment stress.

Chives Spacing

There is no single spacing that is appropriate for every chive production system. Spacing should take into account whether the crop is being grown for individual plants, clumps, repeated leaf harvests or intensive commercial production.

A practical starting point is to use relatively close spacing that allows the plants to develop into productive clumps without creating excessive competition.

For example, a farmer testing a commercial system might evaluate spacing around 20–30 cm between plants and 20–30 cm between rows, then adjust according to cultivar, soil fertility, irrigation and harvesting method.

The correct spacing should produce sufficient leaf growth while maintaining good airflow. Extremely dense planting may increase humidity around the foliage and make disease management more difficult.

Water Requirements

Consistent moisture is one of the most important requirements for commercial chive production. The crop is harvested for its leaves, so moisture stress can reduce leaf growth and quality.

Irrigation should maintain reasonably even soil moisture rather than allowing the crop to alternate between severe dryness and excessive watering.

Drip irrigation is particularly useful for commercial production because it can deliver water close to the root zone while keeping foliage relatively dry. In areas with unreliable rainfall, irrigation also allows the farmer to maintain production between rainy periods.

Water quality matters as well. Research has classified chives as relatively sensitive to saline conditions, meaning farmers using borehole or other potentially saline water should consider testing its quality before investing heavily in production.

Fertiliser and Nutrient Management

Chives produce repeated harvests of foliage, so nutrients removed from the field can become significant over time. A soil test should guide the basic fertiliser programme.

Nitrogen is particularly important for vegetative growth, but applying excessive nitrogen without considering the rest of the nutrient balance is not good practice. Phosphorus and potassium also contribute to overall crop development and productivity.

Research on commercial chive production has demonstrated substantial nutrient demand under intensive harvesting, with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium removal increasing as biomass production increases.

For Kenyan farmers, a sensible approach is to:

1. Test the soil before establishing the crop.
2. Correct major soil deficiencies before or during establishment.
3. Maintain adequate organic matter.
4. Replace nutrients removed through repeated harvesting.
5. Avoid blindly copying fertiliser programmes developed for other soils or climates.

Fertigation can be useful where drip irrigation is installed, but fertiliser concentration and frequency should be based on soil, crop demand and irrigation management rather than applying high nitrogen rates automatically.

Weed Management

Chives grow relatively close to the ground during establishment, making them vulnerable to competition from weeds.

Early weed control is therefore important. Hand weeding, shallow cultivation and appropriate mulching can reduce competition.

Mulching has an additional advantage because it can help conserve soil moisture and reduce weed emergence. Research has found that plastic mulch can improve chive biomass production while also helping control weeds and conserve soil moisture, although the economics and environmental implications of the mulch system should be considered.

Care should be taken during cultivation because shallow-rooted or newly established plants can be damaged by aggressive hoeing.

Pest and Disease Management

Chives can be affected by problems common to members of the Allium family. The actual pest and disease pressure will depend heavily on location, weather, crop rotation, planting material and field hygiene.

Common problems that farmers should monitor for include:

• Thrips and other sap-feeding insects
• Caterpillars and foliage-feeding insects
• Fungal or bacterial leaf diseases
• Root and basal rots where drainage is poor
• Problems associated with excessive humidity

Integrated pest management should begin with prevention rather than routine spraying. Use healthy planting material, maintain field sanitation, avoid excessive irrigation, provide adequate spacing and inspect the crop regularly.

Chemical control should only be considered after correctly identifying the pest or disease and selecting a product legally registered for the intended crop and use in Kenya. Farmers should follow the product label, pre-harvest interval and all applicable requirements.

Harvesting Chives

Chives are harvested primarily for their young green leaves. Under suitable conditions, harvesting can begin roughly 70–100 days after planting, although actual timing varies with establishment method, climate and crop management.

Harvesting should be done carefully to encourage continued regrowth. Leaves can be cut above the base rather than damaging the crown and root system.

Do not remove excessive foliage from a young or weak crop. The plant needs sufficient leaf area to continue photosynthesis and rebuild its biomass after harvesting.

Once established, chives can provide repeated harvests because they are perennial. FAO indicates that established clumps may need replanting or renewal after several years, with its crop database giving approximately two to three years as a general period for replanting clumps.

Actual productive lifespan on a Kenyan farm will depend on variety, climate, soil fertility, disease pressure and management.

Post-Harvest Handling

Chives are a fresh herb and should be handled as a perishable product.

Harvest during the cooler part of the day where possible and avoid unnecessary exposure to heat and direct sunlight. Remove damaged or yellowing leaves and grade the product according to the buyer’s requirements.

Clean, uniform and fresh-looking leaves are generally more suitable for premium markets than wilted or mechanically damaged material.

Packaging should protect the leaves from crushing while helping maintain freshness. The correct packaging depends on the buyer and whether the product is sold directly to consumers, restaurants, supermarkets or other intermediaries.

The farmer should establish these requirements with buyers before production rather than growing first and searching for a market later.

Chives Market in Kenya

Chives are better approached as a specialty herb market rather than a commodity crop competing directly with onions.

Potential buyers include:

• Hotels and restaurants
• Caterers
• Supermarkets
• Specialty grocery stores
• Fresh-herb distributors
• Food processors
• Direct household consumers

The most important commercial issue is consistency. A buyer who needs fresh chives every week is likely to value reliable supply, uniform quality, appropriate packaging and predictable delivery.

Farmers near Nairobi and other major urban markets may have an advantage because proximity reduces transport time for a highly perishable herb. However, the best production location is not necessarily the one closest to the largest city; access to suitable climate, water, labour and a dependable buyer all influence profitability.

Is Chives Farming Profitable in Kenya?

Chives can generate income through repeated harvesting, but profitability should not be calculated simply by multiplying an assumed yield by a retail price.

The farmer should calculate:

Gross revenue = Marketable chives sold × Actual selling price

Then:

Net profit = Gross revenue − Total production and marketing costs

Costs can include land preparation, seed or planting material, nursery establishment, manure, fertiliser, irrigation, labour, weed control, pest and disease management, harvesting, packaging, transport, rejected produce and market commissions.

Because reliable Kenyan farm-gate yield and price data for chives are not as widely established as for major horticultural crops, farmers should be cautious about online claims of guaranteed income per acre.

Instead, conduct a small production trial, record actual harvesting quantities and labour requirements, and obtain real quotations from potential buyers. This gives a much stronger basis for deciding whether to expand.

Common Mistakes When Growing Chives

One of the biggest mistakes is treating chives exactly like bulb onions. The commercial objective is different: chives are primarily grown for repeated production of tender leaves rather than a large storage bulb.

Other common mistakes include:

• Planting without identifying a market.
• Using poorly identified planting material.
• Allowing weeds to compete during establishment.
• Overwatering poorly drained fields.
• Allowing the crop to suffer repeated moisture stress.
• Harvesting too aggressively from young plants.
• Applying excessive nitrogen without soil or crop assessment.
• Planting too densely and creating poor airflow.
• Ignoring water quality where irrigation water may be saline.
• Harvesting and transporting the herb without proper post-harvest handling.

Can Chives Be Grown in Containers?

Yes. Chives are well suited to small gardens, kitchen gardens and containers because they form relatively compact clumps and can be harvested repeatedly.

A container should have adequate drainage and sufficient depth for healthy root development. Use a fertile growing medium that holds moisture without remaining saturated.

Container production can also be useful for farmers testing consumer demand before committing to field-scale production.

Chives vs Chinese Chives

Farmers should confirm exactly what their customer wants before purchasing seed or planting material.

FAO’s crop database treats the two as separate species with different characteristics and uses.

Final Considerations for Kenyan Farmers

Chives can be an interesting niche crop for Kenyan farmers, particularly those operating in cooler areas with reliable water and access to premium fresh-herb markets. Its perennial nature and ability to produce repeated leaf harvests can be attractive, but commercial success depends heavily on quality, harvesting discipline and reliable buyers.

Before establishing a large field, start with a manageable trial. Confirm the identity and quality of planting material, test the soil and water, monitor the crop under local conditions, and discuss specifications with prospective buyers.

For farmers establishing chives commercially, market planning should come before acreage expansion. Good planting material, appropriate site selection, consistent moisture, balanced nutrition, effective weed and disease management, and careful post-harvest handling will determine whether the crop becomes a viable enterprise.

Farmers seeking quality planting materials and expert guidance can contact SeedFarm via website: www.seedfarm.co.ke, Call or WhatsApp: +254712075915, or email: info@seedfarm.co.ke.