How Do You Plant Chives?
June 22, 2022
chives
Chives are a member of the onion and are a famous garnished topped on dishes. It produces lovely edible flowers with an anti-pest property. Planting chives will make a great addition to any indoor garden!
How to Grow Chives
When to Plant
Chives can be planted anytime as long as the temperature is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above. They do best when planted in early spring.
Where to Plant
Chives do best in an area that has plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. Avoid planting them in locations exposed to strong winds.
How to Plant
After preparing the soil, plant your chives about 3 - 4 inches apart. Firm the soil around them gently to ensure good contact with the roots.
How to Care for Chives
Water your chives regularly, but ensure that the soil is not soggy. Fertilize your chives every month in warm periods and trim them regularly to keep their growth in check. In colder temperatures, mulch your chives for added protection.
Harvesting
You can start harvesting chives when they reach 5 - 6 inches in height. Trim the leaves often to promote new growth, making sure to leave 3 - 4 inches of stem so they can regrow.
Intro to growing Chives
Let's get this show on the road. Growing chives is a lot of fun. Plus, they are tasty and healthy!
Soil
Chives thrive in well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, with a pH of 6-7 and full sun. Chives prefer moisture-retentive, well-drained soil and a sunny or partially shaded spot. They can also be grown in large pots of soil-based compost, either on their own or in a mixed herb display. Chives ideally wants sandy loam or loamy soil to grow in. Sandy loam simply means soil consisting of less than 7 percent clay, less than 50 percent silt, and between 43 and 50 percent sand. Loam soil consists of equal parts of all three soil types.
Container
To grow chives, select containers that are at least 8 inches wide and deep. With plants in containers, either move large clumps into a slightly larger pot every few years or divide in a similar way to plants in the ground.
Seeds
You are obviously also going to need seeds! If you don't have the time or space to grow from seed, simply buy potted plants from supermarkets or garden centres.
Sun-Requirements
This plant needs full sun.
Sowing
Potted plants bought in supermarkets or garden shops can be planted straight outside from spring onwards. They can be grown from seed and mature in summer, or early the following spring. Sow the seeds thinly in small pots or modular trays filled with seed compost.
Depth
Chives should be sown at a depth of 0.25 inches (1 cm).
Germination
Once the tiny grass-like seedlings appear, remove them from the propagator or uncover, then place in a warm bright location to grow on. Cover with a thin layer of vermiculite, then water gently. Place in a heated propagator or cover with a clear plastic bag and place somewhere warm to germinate.
