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. 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 Chinese have been cultivating chives for their cuisine for hundreds of years. The chive that the Chinese use is slightly different to the pecies we know and love, and possesses a hint of garlic. The herb grows wild in most parts of the world. Easy to look after, the herb is not fussy over particular soil types, and are suitable in sunlight or half-shade.
Growing chives in full sunlight and rich, well-drained soil produces healthy plants to dress up any herb garden with their purple tops. From planting time to harvest, you can have fresh chives on your dinner plate in three months.
Growing chives Tips:
Growing chives is relatively simple. Either buy ‘ready-grown’ chive plants from the nursery, or brave it out and grow your own from seed. To reproduce the chives (also known as Allium schoenoprasum), simply separate existing bulbs, and replant. The herb plants should be planted about nine inches apart.
Growing chives indoors or outside-
Chives is one of the hardiest herbs; it can grow inside or outdoors with only a small amount of care after germination (A little bit like the plant graduating). Moist soil is better, but it cannot be too wet. An idea would be to place the tiny seedlings in potting soil, placed in egg cartons (empty ones of course!). After visible sprouting of about 3-4 inches has occurred, it is time to re-plant into larger containers or pots.
Chive seeds can be started outside in the spring using well-prepared soil. Plant the chives seeds in rows at least 12″ apart. When the chives sprout, they resemble blades of grass Keep chives weeded but watch out you do not pull the wrong plant!
Benefits of growing chives-
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 an ideal decorative edging for a flowerbed. When you first see the purple tips of chives, they can now be clipped, ready for use for meals.
Even the bulbs can be dug up, and used much like an onion – producing a similar flavor. The bulbs can also be chopped the same way as small onions.
Trim off flower heads to allow for vigorous new growth of leaves. When growing chives for seasoning, wait until the leaves have grown about three inches. 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 preparing.
Growing chives for recipes-
Salad or meat dishes are particularly suitable with chives, however there is a large variety to consider. Add chives to the top of soups for a little extra flavor. 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 flavor.
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 need it.