Growing Chives
If you are one that enjoys the flavor of onions with your meals, you’ll definitely like the experience of growing chives. The word chive means onion in Latin The herb lasts throughout the year, so you can enjoy the chives in any season. Chives are a hardy plant and there are uses for every part of the herb.
It is not widely known, but chives were brought back by Marco Polo after his venture to China. The herb has been grown and used over there for hundreds of years. Chinese chive is a less common variety with a delicate hint of garlic. Chives are known to grow in most parts of the world, in the wild. Not hard to please, the plant can tolerate most soil types, and produce in partial shade or full sun.
Growing chives for decorative use in the garden can have a very aesthetically pleasing effect. Plant 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 within 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. A distance of around 9” should be maintained between each plant.
How your growing chives can be placed inside, or planted outdoors-
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 to the end quality (This is like a plant’s graduation.). Chives prefer moist soil, although be careful not to over water. An idea would be to place the tiny seedlings in potting soil, placed in egg cartons (empty ones of course!). You will transplant the herb into larger containers after it has grown a few inches.
If you’d prefer the chives to be outside, use well prepared, good quality 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… Keep chives weeded but watch out you do not pull the wrong plant!
Benefits of growing chives-
Chives have high levels of vitamin A and C and essential minerals. 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 an ideal decorative edging for a flowerbed. When the chive’s purple flowers begin to appear, select a few chive clumps to use for garnish.
Even the bulbs can be dug up, and used much like an onion – producing a similar 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. Select a leaf and cut it down to about an inch. Repeat this until you have enough fresh chives for the dish you are cooking.
Growing chives for recipes-
Salad or meat dishes are particularly suitable with chives, however there is a large variety to consider. 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. Growing chives is absolutely no trouble. It takes up almost no space, and has little to no waste, as the entire plant can be eaten.
Enjoy the experience of having the convenience of fresh chives to hand, whenever you want it.
Tags: grow chives, grow herbs, growing chives, growing herbs, how to grow chives
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