Chives Herb – 100 Seeds

Chives Herb Seeds. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae that produces edible leaves and flowers. Their close relatives include the common onions, garlic, shallot, leek, scallion, and Chinese onion.

Chives are a low maintenance, easy to grow perennial herb, grown for their onion-scented tasting leaves. Because chives are compact, they are ideal for edging paths and borders, as well as growing in mixed borders, vegetable gardens, herb gardens and in containers.

Chives Herb Culinary Uses

• These are a delicious addition to salads, and can be added to many other savoury dishes.
• Their taste is milder than onions, so they are the perfect choice for soups and savoury dishes – where their more subtle flavour is needed.
• Although mainly grown for their leaves, chives also produce highly attractive pinky-purple flowers. These are also edible and are an attractive salad garnish.

Growing Chives Herb

Indoor Sowing: Spring.

Direct Sowing: Spring and Autumn.

• Chives will grow well in full sun or in partial shade.
• They grow best in a fertile, moist but well-drained soil.
• You can sow chives herb seeds thinly outdoors in spring or autumn, where you want them to grow.
• Prepare the soil well with added compost and rake to a fine tilth before sowing.
• Thin out the young plants to 23-30cm apart when large enough to handle.
• Seeds can also be sown indoors at a temperature of 18-21C.
• Lightly cover the seed with more compost and keep moist.
• When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into 7.5-10cm  pots in bunches of 4-6 seedlings per pot.
• Plant outside when the last frosts are over, after hardening off – gradually acclimatizing them to outdoor conditions – for 10-14 days.
• Chives are very easy to look after and need minimal maintenance.
• Keep the soil moist by watering regularly during prolonged dry periods in summer.
• Feed with a general granular plant food each spring.
• Plants may become congested over time and need rejuvenating every 3 to 5 years. Carefully lift, divide the plant into smaller portions and replant in well-prepared soil in spring.