"Growing Chives
the easiest herb to grow!"

Growing chives - why? ..Chives are probably the easiest herbs to grow in the garden.

They can be added to just about any meal you would normally add onions to, and they're very good for you!

Chives are the smallest of the onion family and there are a fair few types to choose from.

I've grown 'garlic' chives for years in the garden, and they are really useful, especially if you've run out of garlic.

Although the flower stalk is edible, once the flower has been produced, there is very little taste or nutrients left in the stalk. Discard the flower stalks, and crumble the flower heads into your salad.

Growing chives: positioning

Chives like sun but do like a little shade during long hot summers. They are fairly good at tolerating drought conditions, but are happiest in moist well-drained soil.

Place chive plants in different parts of the garden, so you've always got something to pick and eat!

Chives do very well from seed. Plant a few seeds in a pot very early in the year and keep warm and watered until the seedlings are large enough to plant outside.

Plant out in well dug soil, preferably with some organic compost mixed in. You won't need to feed chives once they're in the ground, unless your ground is particularly poor, in which case you should give the chive plants a monthly feed.

Keep weed-free and watered until well established.

Growing chives in containers is also possible! Keep a pot in the kitchen. Remember to water and the plant will see you right through the season. When the flowers start to die back, cut the plant down to about 2-3 inches (5-8cms) high and the chives will grow again.

Thompson & Morgan have chive seeds available.....

"Garden Chives""Garlic Chinese" Chives

Growing chives in the UK Type 'chives' into the search box for their full range.

For growing chives in The US, try Amazon!:

"Allium Schoenoprasum"

Growing chives - Amazon

Growing chives - care and maintenance:

There really won't be much to do.... chives are 100% easy plants to grow. Don't plant near onions as they could get onion fly, but apart from that just pick and eat them!

Don't start using the chives until the plants are fairly well established - late summer in the first year of growth.

Growing chives - Harvesting:

Cut chives as you need them. Use scissors and leave 2-3 inches (5-8cms) of leaf on the plant. When the flowers start to dry and die back, you can cut down the whole plant ( to 2-3 inches (5-8cms) high ) and the chives will grow again.

Use the flowers in the kitchen or leave to bloom on the plant. The purple flowers look spectacular on a well-established plant.

After three or four years, the chive plant should be divided. Dig up carefully, then gently, but firmly, separate the clumps of bulbs and re-plant.

During the winter months your chive plant may die back completely. Don't worry, it'll come back in the spring.

Chives are best eaten fresh off the plant, but it's possible to store them too...

Drying:

I've never tried drying chive leaves, as there are usually fresh plants available, but drying the flower stalks with flowers should be easy enough. As with other herbs, the stalks should be either hung upside down or laid on racks and turned regularly. They should be dried in a dry airy place. When completely dry, store in jars out of direct light. Remember to label the jar!

Freezing:

Freeze chopped leaves quickly on trays or in plastic containers. Place in sealable freezer bags and label. Add a few chopped fresh chives to sauces just before you freeze the sauce.

Growing chives for your health!:

Chives are high in vitamin C and have similar properties to all the onion family. Find out more about growing onions on this page...Planting Onions Many people believe this family of plants aids digestion and helps prevents colds and flu. They certainly make a tasty medicine!

Happy Gardening!

Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months.

Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.

Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense

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