Chives are perennial plants that belong to the onion family, and are very easy to grow! They'll bloom beautiful, purple flowers, so they'll make a really nice addition to any garden! Chives are great to have in your garden because they add a depth of flavor to any dish. They are cool season crop that can be planted in early spring. Be careful though, as the flowers can take over your garden if they are left to ripen! Keep reading to learn how to grow chives!
How to Grow Chives
Planting Chives:
- Choose a spot in your garden that will receive full sun.
- Use soil that is moist, fertile, rich, and well draining. Apply 2-3 tbsp of all purpose fertilizer per square foot of planting area. Work compost and fertilizer into the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches.
- If you'd like to get a head start, start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last spring frost.
- If sowing directly into the garden, make sure the soil is at least 70C in temperature.
- Plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep and plant each seed 4-6 inches apart.
Care:
- Water on a regular basis and make sure soil is moist at all times.
- Apply a layer of mulch to conserve moisture.
- Once the flowers bloom, be sure to remove them so that the seeds don't spread throughout your garden.
- Divide the plants every 3-4 years in the spring.
Harvesting Chives:
- Chives should be ready to harvest 60 days after planting.
- Cut the leaves down to the base when harvesting.
- Harvest 3-4 times during the first year, and then cut monthly the years after.
So now that you know how to grow chives, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to planting!
Happy Planting!
