Growing Chives, How to Grow Chives, and Planting Chives from Seed
Design Your Own Vegetable Garden Layout Using our Free "Vegetable Garden Planner" Software! This attractive plant is the easiest to grow of the entire onion family and prized for its tangy, hollow green leaves. Growing chives is a tasty idea for use as a traditional kitchen herb. It also helps the overall garden health by keeping the bug population down with its positive pesticide qualities. Chives grow as cool-season perennials in the vegetable garden and are delicious in salads, and cheese and egg dishes. Besides cultivating chives for its singular taste bud sensation, the herb shares the healing properties of the rest of the alliums family like its relative, garlic. In garden folklore, whooping cough sufferers were prescribed to eat sandwiches filled with chopped chives for four days for a complete recovery. Download Free Garden Planning Worksheets, Garden Diary, Zone Chart, Or Planting Guide Cultivating chives may be grown from seed or planted by root division from an established chive colony. Planting time for growing chives is in the spring after ground has warmed and is workable. In autumn, in reverse season climates. Chives may also be grown successfully indoors.
How to Grow Chives from Seeds or Root DivisionsWhen planting chives from seed, scatter the seeds over a 100-square inch area, and cover with ¼- ½ inch of loose potting soil. Then compact the soil with the palms of your hands. To plant root divisions, purchase transplant stock or divide an existing chive cluster with a shovel or sharp garden spade. Trim the green tops, exposing them one inch above ground. Cover the entire planting with ½-inch soil. Chives grow to 18 inches tall and form plant colonies as expansive in area as provided. The herb blooms in late spring or early summer; regular growing chives with a blue flower; garlic chives with a white flower. The chive plant is hardy to temperatures of -40 degrees F! Plant low-growing chives in front of taller and midsized plants in the vegetable garden.
Caring for Chive PlantsAs a petite member of the onion family, growing chives require regular watering and generous mulching due to its shallow root system.Maintain a pH level of 6.0-6.8 by applying organic compost to enrich soil. Soil should be kept moist. Shade plants from direct sunlight in hot climates. In cold winter regions, trim herbs to the ground every fall and fertilize with organic compost in the springtime. Chives will continue growing throughout the wintertime in areas with milder weather conditions. Gardeners rarely have the need to use control measures against insect pests in an herb garden. Bear in mind; never apply chemical insecticides to culinary herbs. For growing chives in containers, move indoors in extreme hot temperatures. Divide bunches every 3-4 years to maintain vitality of the colony. Companion plants for growing chives are cress and mint.
Harvesting ChivesMaturity for chive plants is 75-90 days.Chives can be harvested when 3-4 inches in height. Clip one-third of the crop, allowing the rest to continue growing. To harvest, snip, do not pull. Cut another third when five-eight inches in height. Leave the final third to develop flowers and expand the colony through root division. Avoid over harvesting before the young colonies become established.
Storage of ChivesThe flavor and texture are best fresh. Use kitchen scissors to cut chive leaves into tiny sections. Chives may also be chopped and then dried or frozen in sealable plastic bags.Uses of Chive PlantsThe culinary herb has a strong onion flavor used for seasoning food. Generously sprinkle chives on potato salads, cheese balls, baked potatoes, cream soups, cottage cheese, butter spreads, and omelets. The pink-and-purple blossoms lend a mild onion taste to salads. Growing Chives to Vegetable Gardening Chives to Planting a Vegetable Garden You Might Also like to Read:
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The best plans and tips for growing chives in an indoor or outdoor vegetable garden. Learn about planting chives from seeds, and how to care for chive plants in the garden!
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