Chives Seed

Description

Why grow chives?

An easy perennial herb producing mild onion-flavoured leaves and edible pink flowers loved by pollinators.

At a glance

• Packet: 400 Organic Chive Seeds [approx]
• Botanical name: Allium schoenoprasum
• Germination rate: 81%
• Seed origin: Netherlands
• Sow: March to June
• Harvest: July to August

How to grow

Chives are an easy to grow perennial herb. They can be started indoors in March. Using seedling modules or small pots, sow a pinch of seed in each module or pot. Once the seedlings are established, thin to leave only the strongest one in each module or pot. Transplant out to the garden in May, leaving a distance of 5cm between each plant.. Alternatively, sow directly into your garden from May onwards. In its first year, it is best to wait until the end of summer to harvest chives for the first time. This allows the plant to get established. When harvesting, leave 10cm of leaf at the bottom of the plant so it can regrow. Removing the flower buds will promote the plant to produce more leaves quicker. The leaves have a mild onion flavour. Chives, if allowed, produce a lovely pink flower that is also edible.