Growing Chives

If you like to use the flavor of onions in your meals, you will definitely benefit from growing chives. ‘Chive’ does actually mean onion in Latin! The herb lasts throughout the year, so you can enjoy the chives in any season. A good thing about chives, as well as their durability, is the fact that any part of the plant can be used.

It is not widely known, but chives were brought back by Marco Polo after his venture to China. The Chinese have been cultivating chives for their cuisine for centuries. The chive that the Chinese use is slightly different to the pecies we know and love, and possesses a hint of garlic. Chives are known to grow in most parts of the world, in the wild. Easy to look after, the herb is not fussy over particular soil types, and are suitable in sunlight or half-shade.

Growing chives for decorative use in the garden can have a very aesthetically pleasing effect. Place in well draining, rich soil, ensure plenty of sunlight, and you’ll soon notice the purple color weaving it’s way throughout the garden. From planting time to harvest, you can have fresh chives on your dinner plate in three months.

Tips for growing chives-

It is relatively simple when growing chives. You can purchase chive plants from a nursery or buy seed packets. Chives, Allium schoenoprasum, are best grown by separating the bulbs of existing plants and replanting. The herb plants should be planted about nine inches apart.

Growing chives indoors or outside-

As mentioned, one of the benefits to growing herbs is its ‘hardiness’ – and for this reason, after germination it can be placed indoors or out, without much difference in end quality (A little bit like the plant graduating). Moist soil is better, but it cannot be too wet. Start the chive seedlings with basic potting soil in empty egg cartons. You will transplant the herb into larger containers after it has grown a few inches.

Chive seeds can be started outside in the spring using well-prepared soil. Seeds should be planted in rows with about a foot distance between. You’ll notice that when the seeds begin to sprout, they’ll look like blades of grass – try not to mow them… The same goes with weeding, careful you don’t yank out the wrong plants!

Growing Chives and Their Benefits

Chives are chocked full of healthy vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins A & C. Growing chives has another hidden benefit to your garden – it acts as a natural insect and pest repellent, keeping the nasties away from your other prized plants as well.

Growing chives is a nice decorative edging for a flowerbed. When you first see the purple tips of chives, they can now be clipped, ready for use in meals.

Even the bulbs can be dug up, and used much like an onion – producing a familiar flavor. Simply chop the chive bulbs and use as you would small green onions.

To accelerate new growth of leaves, snip off the flower heads. However, leaves should be about 3” long before clipping for garnish. When it comes to this, trim the leaf down until there is half-inch left. Repeat this until you have enough fresh chives for the dish you are cooking.

Recipes used after growing chives:

Fresh chives go well with a variety of dishes like salads or meat. Soups perk up when you add chives on top. A well known favorite is sour cream with chives as a tasty dip. Spuds and chives are a tasty combination. Try sprinkling over ‘just-cooked’ baked potatoes, or mix with mash for a little kick in taste.

This helpful herb is never out of place on a kitchen windowsill. As you now know, growing chives is really no trouble at all. The herb takes up very little space, and the whole plant can be eaten, so there is little waste.

Have fresh chives on hand when you need a clump of the flavorful herb.