🌿 Chives

Chives grow in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil that remains evenly moist (loam is ideal). Improve flowerbeds by loosening the soil and incorporating compost or well-decomposed manure to increase fertility and moisture retention without waterlogging. In containers, use a quality all-purpose potting mix and add perlite/sand (and possibly a little coarse sand) for aeration and drainage. Chives tolerate a wide range of soils, but perform best in slightly acidic or neutral pH (~6.0-7.0, up to about 7.5).

Sow chive (Allium schoenoprasum) seeds in early spring. Sow indoors in trays/cells/pots 6-8 weeks before the last frosts, or sow directly outdoors once the soil can be worked and the risk of severe frosts has passed. Use a fine, well-drained sowing mix (or a weed-free, crumbly garden bed in full sun). Sow thinly and superficially, to a depth of around 0.5 cm, and cover lightly; firm up and water gently. Keep the soil evenly moist (but not soggy). Germination is optimal at cool ambient temperatures of around 15-20°C and usually takes 1-3 weeks. When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant and grow them, or thin them out to prevent crowding. Harden off plants grown indoors and transplant after the risk of heavy frosts, spacing plants/groups about 15-20 cm apart (rows 20-30 cm apart). Water well and avoid weeds during the establishment period. For faster establishment, plant divisions of established clumps in spring or early autumn, replanting the divisions at the same depth and spacing them about 20 cm apart.

Chives feed little or only moderately. Before planting, incorporate compost or a thin layer of well-decomposed manure. In early spring, top-dress with compost or apply a small quantity of a balanced, general-purpose granulated fertilizer. After repeated or heavy harvests, an occasional application of dilute liquid fertilizer can encourage regrowth, especially for container plants where nutrients are rapidly leached out. Avoid fertilizers with a high nitrogen content (they can produce soft, lush growth with a weaker flavor). Don't over-fertilize; once plants are growing steadily, there's usually no need to add fertilizer. Stop fertilizing between late summer and early autumn, when growth slows (and during the winter dormancy period).

Apply a 2- to 5-cm (1- to 2-inch) organic mulch (compost, leaf mold, fine bark or straw) around chive clumps to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Keep the mulch slightly back from the crown and base of the shoots to maintain air circulation and reduce the risk of rotting. In cold-winter regions, renew the mulch in late autumn, as the soil begins to cool, to protect the crowns and reduce frost heave; remove the mulch in early spring, when growth resumes.

Digestive and stimulating

Harvest the leaves with scissors, starting with the outer ones. For larger harvests, shear the whole clump to around 2-5 cm above the ground to stimulate growth; avoid cutting several times below this point, as this can weaken the plants. Remove flower stalks (dead heads) after flowering if you wish to give priority to leaf production and reduce self-seeding; leave some flowers if you wish to obtain seeds or encourage pollinators. At the end of summer or after flowering, you can cut the plants back a few centimetres from the ground to tidy them up and encourage the appearance of new leaves. Remove yellowing or dead foliage. Divide crowded clumps every 3-4 years (in spring or early autumn) to maintain vigor; trim the tops slightly at the time of division to reduce transplant stress.