Chives
Chives
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Chives Seeds
If you only have space for one herb, make it Chives. This tough little member of the onion family offers a mild, fresh onion flavour that enhances eggs, potato salads, and soups without the harshness of raw onion.
This is a "plant once, harvest forever" crop. It is a hardy perennial that forms neat clumps of tubular leaves, returning faithfully every spring. In early summer, it produces stunning purple pom-pom flowers that are not only a magnet for bees but are completely edible—sprinkle the florets over a salad for a gourmet, chef-style finish.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Chives are a **Hardy Perennial**.
They die back to the ground in winter and re-emerge in early spring. They grow from tiny bulbs that multiply underground, meaning your clump gets bigger and better every year.
The "Pollinator Magnet": Chives are fantastic for wildlife. The nectar-rich purple flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hoverflies, making them a great companion plant for fruit and veg.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Chives are incredibly easy to grow from seed.
Germination:
Sow indoors in spring, or directly outdoors from March to May. Sow seeds thinly into drills and cover lightly with 0.5cm of soil. Keep moist. Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They like sun or partial shade. They are not fussy about soil but prefer it to be moist. They are perfect for pots, window boxes, or edging a vegetable bed.
Care While Growing:
The "Haircut": Don't be afraid to harvest! Regular cutting encourages fresh, tender new growth. If the leaves get tough in mid-summer, cut the whole clump down to 5cm, water well, and it will regrow in weeks.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Allium schoenoprasum |
| Common Name | Chives |
| Hardiness | H6 (Very Hardy Perennial) |
| Light Required | Sun or Partial Shade ⛅ |
| Height | ↕️ 30cm - 40cm |
| Spread | ↔️ 30cm (Clumping) |
| Spacing | 🌱 25cm apart |
| Great for | 🥗 Salads & Garnishes 🐝 Bees 🥕 Carrot Companion 🏺 Window Boxes |
| Seed Count | Approx. 200 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
Chives are excellent "companion plants" that help protect their neighbours:
- 🥕 Carrots: The Protector. The strong onion scent of chives is said to confuse the Carrot Root Fly, masking the scent of the carrots. Plant chives in rows between your carrots.
- 🌹 Roses: The Folklore Friend. Gardeners have planted chives under roses for centuries, believing they prevent Blackspot fungus and deter aphids. Plus, the purple flowers look lovely against pink roses.
📅 Sowing & Harvesting Calendar
Sow Spring/Autumn. Harvest Spring to Autumn.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||||||
| Harvest | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ |
⚠️ Edible Flowers
The purple pom-pom flowers are 100% edible. Pull the florets apart and sprinkle them over potato salad or omelettes for a mild onion flavour and a beautiful pop of colour.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
Chives are one of the most valuable plants for biodiversity. They bloom early in the summer, providing a vital nectar source for bees when other flowers are still developing.
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