|
|
|
Last Updated: Jan 10, 2007 - 10:15:57 AM |
Chives, (Allium schoenoprasum) are a perennial herb that can be found growing wild in China and other countries of the East. In addition to being a delicious herb for your kitchen, chives have beautiful purple blossoms that will look great in your garden or in your kitchen window box.
The Chinese have been using chives for centuries and the Greeks also have a strong tradition of the culinary use of chives. From its origins in the East, the use of chives quickly spread to Western and Eastern Europe. Chives can also be found growing wild in certain parts of Eastern Europe. These days, serious (and most not so serious) chefs worldwide utilize chives in anything from making salad dressings to dressing up baked potatoes. As with garlic, which is from the same family, chives are also know to be good for your health, reducing blood pressure and working as a topical antibacterial ointment.
Thankfully, chives are very easy to grow. They are very hardy and will even tolerate drought conditions. They grow from underground bulbs and will easily germinate from seed under the right conditions.
To grow them from seed, keep the temperature around 60 degrees and keep them moist. Plant the seeds around 1/2 inch deep in a flat with high quality potting soil. A peat-based soilless mix will also work. The chives will start popping up in about 2 weeks. They will be ready for transplanting in about 4 weeks.
Plant your chive starter plants in a sunny spot. They will grow in partial shade but may be a bit stressed. Well drained soil with plenty of organic material mixed in will work fine. You can test your soil pH if you wish. It should be around 6.0 to 8.0. When grow from seed, chives will reach a girth of about 2 inches the first year, and can spread out to about 14 inches after a few years of growth. They typically reach 18 inches of height.
If you have chives already growing in your garden or know someone who does, you can propagate new chives by dividing the bulbs into small clumps of about 5 bulbs. You’ll probably want to divide them every few years anyway as they tend to get crowded.
Another wonderful thing about chives is that they aren’t susceptible to many pests or diseases. That’s the advantage of being a bit garlicky and stinky. You may have a mild case of rust or downy mildew, but this is rare.
If you’re looking for more information on chives, including harvesting tips, see the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service website.
For information on growing herbs without harmful chemical pesticides and herbicides, we recommend Organic Herb Gardening Tips.
© Copyright 2005 GardenPlantCare.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
