Chives are a part of the onion family, but unlike most onions, the greens are not a bulb.Compared to standard onions, chives have a milder taste.The small grass-like herb is added to soups, salads, and sauces for its light flavor and aesthetic appeal.The entire process from choosing a species of chive, preparing your garden, planting, and harvesting is very easy.Chives can be grown in a variety of climates.
Step 1: You can grow onion chives for cooking.
Common chives is the most popular variety of the plant.Onion chives are a type of onion that is used in salads and as a topping for many cooking dishes for a subtle flavor enhancement.The chives are bright to dark green in color and grow anywhere from 8–12 inches (20.3–30.5 cm) in length.The stem is hollow at the center.
Step 2: Garlic chives can be grown for cooking.
Garlic chives are also called Chinese chives and are used in cooking.The taste of the chives is similar to garlic.They are used to bring out the garlic flavor in dishes.Unlike onion chives, garlic chives have flat stems and flower buds that can be used in cooking.The garlic chives are bright to dark green in hue and grow to be 12 inches in height.
Step 3: Consider growing giant siberian chives.
There is a slightly larger variety of onion chives.The strongest flavor of these chives can be found around the borders of a plot.Giant Siberian chives are tubular in shape and blue-green in color.Adding onion-esq to cooking dishes gives them a flavor and scent.
Step 4: chives can be grown for their flowers.
Many people only think of chives as a baked potato topping, but it's actually a type of lilies which produce purple blooms.The flowers are small and have many rows of small, thin petals similar to a dandelion.The flowers of the chive plant entice beneficial insects to your garden, which in turn kill off the pests and unwanted bugs that might be around.Chive flowers are a great addition to your cooking.Add the flowers to salads or use them as decoration on baked goods by cutting them off before they open.There are many varieties of chives that grow flowers.
Step 5: Pick a growing method.
There are two ways to grow chives.Growing chive from seeds takes two years, so most gardeners recommend growing it from a bulb.Pick a start that is bright green, full, and at least 3 inches in height if you want to grow from a existing plant.These are indicators of a healthy chive plant.Growing from seeds involves starting seeds indoors a few months before planting them outdoors.The seeds can grow into plants, but they can't be Harvested for 2 years.Chive plants grow in bulbs that are divided every 3-4 years, so you can plant a divided bulb from a friend or neighbor's chive plot, that will grow into an entirely new plant.The process of planting seeds, bulbs, and starts outdoors is the same.The only growing method that takes a bit more work is seeds.
Step 6: There is a garden plot in the sun.
Although they will grow in shade, chives will produce the biggest harvest when placed in full sun.You can find a plot in your garden that has sunlight most of the day.If you have a shaded garden, choose a patch that gets at least 3-6 hours of sunlight.Smaller or less frequent harvests will be expected when chives are planted in partial sun.
Step 7: Prepare garden soil.
chives can grow in dense, hard soils, but they need light, loamy, and sandy soils with good drainage.If the soil is very dense or has a lot of clay, mix in some sand to loosen it.Adding a garden-quality compost mixture will add to the soil's value.The soil can have time to adjust to the changes if the soil is amended 3-6 weeks prior to planting.
Step 8: Before planting, balance the pH of the soil.
Chives need a pH between 6 and 7.If the soil is too low, increase the pH by chopping agricultural lime into it using a garden trowel or small shovel.Adding compost, manure, or plant litter will lower the pH if it is too high.An easy way to test the pH is with cabbage.You can use a store-bought test probe to measure soil pH.
Step 9: Know when to plant.
Chives should be planted in the early spring.If you want to start your seeds indoors, start them in 8 weeks prior to your outdoor planting date.It's best to plant outdoors around March or April after the last frost of the winter.
Step 10: The soil should be water to prevent transplant shock.
Before planting your chives, wet the soil with a hose.The transplant shock of the new chive plants will be prevented by this.Make sure the soil is moist enough to form clumps when squeezed.Transplant shock is a plant's reaction to being dug up and relocated to a new environment.If the plant is not cared for, it can cause problems.If your plant is sickly in appearance, it might have transplant shock.
Step 11: A hole is 2–4 inches deep.
Chives grow from small bulbs at the base, which need to be covered when planted.A hole no bigger than 2–4 inches (5.1–1.0.2 cm) deep and equally wide is needed for the bulbs.
Step 12: The chives can be planted.
Remove the soil from the hole and place the chive plants in it.The chives should be planted at the same depth as the pots.The plant could rot if the soil buries the stem that was exposed to air.
Step 13: You should water the chives every few days.
When you water your chives, the soil should be moist, so you don't need to water them again.When the soil is completely dry, add water to chives.Depending on the weather in your area, waterings may vary from one day to the next.
Step 14: It is a good idea to apply afertilizer once a month.
The chive harvest will prosper if you apply a bit offertilizer every 3-4 weeks.The 20-20-20 mixture should be incorporated into the soil according to package directions.
Step 15: A layer of mulch is needed to prevent weeds.
Adding mulch will help block out weeds in your garden.If you want to prevent new weed growth, apply a layer of mulch first.Any organic material used as a surface treatment for soil can be mulch, which is often sold in the form of compost or bark at garden supply stores.Adding a thick layer over the top of the soil will block out weeds and trap water for longer.
Step 16: Keep an eye out for pests and diseases.
If you have onions nearby, onion pests, like the onion fly, may gravitate toward your chives.chives may be attacked on a rare basis by a few diseases.If there are problems with your chives, you can usually get rid of them with a small amount of pesticide.
Step 17: When the chives are at least 7 to 10 inches in height, you should wait to harvest them.
The harvestable size of your chives varies depending on the variety you grow, but all varieties are around 7–10 inches.This occurs around mid summer and will continue until the weather cools.In areas with light winters, chives can be grown until the following year.
Step 18: Cut the chives in half.
Use a pair of gardening shears or scissors to cut your chives straight across, starting from the outside of the plant and working in.New growth will be stimulated by cutting the chives from the base of the plant.Don't cut the leaves off the plant at the same time, it will stop future growth.If you cut them at an angle, it will cause them to lose water more quickly than if they are cut straight across.This is due to the fact that cutting at an angle exposes more of the stem.
Step 19: You should harvest your chives 3-4 times a year.
For the best-tasting crop, you should harvest it in the summer and late fall.It is not necessary to harvest the entire plant at once, only cut what you need from a patch, and harvest that patch 3-4 times per year.
Step 20: Deadhead the flowers when they start to grow.
Chives are pollinating and may take over your garden.Cut off the flower heads at the right time.The flowers will not be able to spread to other areas of the garden.Continue deadheading the flowers.
Step 21: The chives should be cut off at the end of the season.
If you want to produce a better crop the following summer, you should cut off all the chives in the late fall.Cut off the top of the chive plant from the base with your gardening shears.It should be done in October or November.Chives will grow back on their own as long as they are taken care of.
Step 22: Every 3 to 4 years, divide chive plants.
As a result of being continually growing, chives can get large.It is a practice to divide the chive plants every few years to keep them out of your garden.Chives are easy to divide.Simply dig down in the dirt to reach the bulb, and split each large plant into sections 13 the original size for replanting.If you want friends and neighbors to start their own herb garden, give the extra sections to them.You can replant chive at the base of your apple trees.There is a disease called apple scab that can be prevented by the chive plants.If deer are a problem for you, consider planting your spare divisions in an area with Chives.