[Smudgeboy]

I planted some chives in early spring - they're looking really healthy - six  nice, big, clumpy plants, about 8" high.

I'd heard that you shouldn't harvest them first year, and at the start of Autumn you should cut all the leaves right off back to near the ground - to ensure good, harvestable chives for years to come.

Is this right - and is it "early Autumn" enough to cut them back yet?

They still seem to be growing and they're showing no signs of flowering yet.

[muntjac]

i leave mine till spring n harvest when i want some chives . when they die off in the cold cut the old dry stuff away .give them a feed of growmore in spring

[WG.]

Yup - allow to die back and then cut away the dried brown stalks.  Cutting when green is simply harvesting!