how to grow chives from chives

\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. These are simply the chive leaves that have finished their growing cycle. right now, and they are pretty much the easiest herb to grow. They are part of the allium family which includes shallots, onions, scallions, leeks, and garlic. You can buy chive seeds from a gardening store or online. Keeping your chive plant snipped back will cut down on the dried, yellow stems from overtaking the entire clump. It's great in containers too. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. She and her family live in Vermont and enjoy all things food, as well as the beautiful outdoors, game nights, Avengers movies and plenty of maple syrup. Chives prefer moist fertile soil that has been amended with a healthy amount of compost. You can buy organic fertilizers from your local gardening store. The seeds are tiny, the size and color of poppy seeds. Chives grow best when watered frequently, as long as there is proper soil drainage. At this point they are full of seeds (over 100 seeds per flower head). Chives are hardy to grow in zones 3 through 10. Or you can start chives from seed. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Wear gardening gloves to protect your skin and get a better grip on the bulbs. In either case, these have a much stronger, more intense onion flavor than chives. Doing this will encourage more vigorous growth. Chives need between 20-25°C to germinate so use a heated propagator, or place on a warm windowsill. It is best to divide chive bulbs in either March or October. Not only can they survive cold weather and dry soil, but they’re also rewarding for gardeners, producing both edible leaves and beautiful, edible purple flowers every year. Most people choose to grow chives directly in the ground since they overwinter so well, and require such little care. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Plant them 1/4-inch deep in well-drained soil. It has also health benefits. If you have grown the chives in pots, remove to a more sheltered spot. Harvest the leaves and flowers as and when you need to. Work compost and fertilizer into the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches. Divide clumps every few years. Use soil that is moist, fertile, rich, and well draining. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. These tips will show you how to plant, grow … Onion chives, also called common chives, are the most popular variety of the plant. Not only are chives a cinch to start growing, they’re a perennial herb—meaning they will grow in your garden for years! Chives are not greedy feeders, so it is not necessary to feed throughout the year if the soil has been prepared as described. One way to grow chives is to divide an existing plant—ask a neighbor or family member if they’ll dig up a few for you. How to Grow Chives. The leaves are flat, not hollow like those of onion chives (Allium schoenoprasum). I'm talking low-maintenance, high-yield, and serious versatility. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Grow Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) in pots on the patio, in the garden, or right on the kitchen windowsill. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Growing Chives from Seed. If they are direct in the ground, simply leave half of the root ball, if you are growing chives in pots then use a knife to divide the root ball and move into two pots. They are low maintenance and used in preparing foods, salads. Chives need full sun (about 6 to 8 hours per day) and rich, moist soil. Preferring moisture retentive, well-drained soil and a sunny or partially shaded position outdoors, chives form 30cm (1ft) tall clumps and can also be grown in pots of soil-based compost. You can usually find a potting mix meant for herbs at gardening stores. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,283 times. Here’s the difference between chives, scallions and green onions. Consider growing onion chives for cooking. let me know in the comment box. A sunny south window offers the six to eight hours of full sunlight needed when growing chives inside. Chives need a deep enough pot for their roots and bulbs to establish. Chives like to be in a sunny location. Chives make a beautiful garnish when scattered over steamed vegetables, fresh salads or summery pasta dishes like pasta primavera. To plant: Chives can be planted from seed or from divisions. Harvesting leaves in the early morning is preferred, before the heat from the sun dehydrates the leaves. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This particular variety can handle all types of soils, including sandy soil, but it cannot tolerate standing water. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Just make sure to clean or sterilize them first with rubbing alcohol. Rejuvenate congested clumps in the ground by lifting and dividing plants every three years or so. Growing chives is very easy. The blooms on chive plants are beautiful, pale purple globes made of tiny flower clusters. In my view you should definitely grow chives. The giant Siberian chives grow naturally in the wild, especially in Northeastern and central Asia. Onion chives bloom in late spring or early summer, whereas garlic chives blossom in late summer in most areas. Keep the soil evenly moist the first season after planting. Notes. Starting Chives from Seed. Keep multiple pots if you want to grow more chives. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Many gardeners grow them for their leaves and rosy purple flowers, both of which boast a mild onion flavour. If you do this now, you won't need to fertilize your chives during their first growing season. If you’re taking chives out of a pot, then use a smaller trowel to loosen the soil instead. Discovering restaurants, tasting bakery treats, finding inspiration in new flavors and regional specialties—no wonder Nancy loves being a food and travel writer. When learning how to grow chives from seed you should almost always start your process indoors. This type of chive has garlic and onion-like flavor and is used in Asian dishes, stir-fry, and with meat. Chives should be planted in a spot with fertile, loamy soil and a pH between 6.0-7.0. Keep plants well watered, especially during long dry spells in summer. You can grow Chives from seeds or get the young Chive plants from the nursery. Tip: Plant the seeds the same year that you buy them since they can quickly lose their viability. Chives will grow in almost all soils, the ideal one being well-dug with the addition of well-rotted compost or organic material. The flowers on garlic chives are white as well, but they are larger. This will form a small clump, which will become bushier after some time. Indoor Chives thrive on a south-facing window that receives at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight per day. But for best practice, you could add fertilizer into the soil every month. This tender green herb is best fresh right from the home garden. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The smaller clump should have at least five to 10 bulbs. Keep multiple pots of chive so you can harvest from different plants each time and promote healthy growth. How to Grow Chives in Pots Indoors: You want to start with a well-draining potting mix and in a pot that is at least 6 inches wide. Chives are a perfect clumping perennial and you can propagate by division and a sharp spade. Growing Chives is easy to grow … Chives are incredibly easy to maintain. If you must bring them in (I’m looking at you, North Dakota! Choose stems that are firm with no browning, and snip them using sharp scissors. They are one of the first herbs to pop up in the spring garden, they are in season (and blooming!) wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. However be wary of planting chives next to peas and beans, as they are believed to inhibit their growth. How to Grow Chives in a Container. Growing chives is very easy to do. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. This article has been viewed 2,283 times. The flavor of chives is delicate, so when using the herb in recipes, add them toward the end of cooking time to preserve the flavor. You can grow several chives plants in such pot, usually 5 to 6 young plants together. Growing zones: Chives grow best in Zones 3 to 11. They are one of the easiest herbs to grow at home, last all season and can be used to garnish and flavor so many dishes. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Full sun to partial afternoon shade. They grow best in cooler climates, and it is recommended that they be planted indoors 6 – 8 weeks before they can be transplanted outside. Giant Siberian Chives. Chives takes about 45 days to mature after which farmers harvest a crop every 20-25 days for up to three years, and a greenhouse measuring 240 sq m produces up to 150 kg. (Here’s the difference between chives, scallions and green onions.) wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you can’t find an organic soil, use a liquid 20-20-20 fertilizer instead. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website.