Four culinary species of chives are widely grown for their foliage; fragrant garlic chives from central Asia, with red striped petals; onion chives, with umbels of pink flowers; garlic or Chinese chives with white flowers and delicious, garlic scented strap like foliage chives, with mauve flowers and both a green and variegated leaf form.
The plant requires a well tilled and weed free soil, good drainage and a sunny position. Raise all forms and their relatives by seed. Regular weeding is essential, particularly in the earlier stages of growth. Do not over water. Use the foliage fresh.
Depending on the variety, the edible stems have a mild onion or garlic flavour that goes well with sauces, stews, mashed vegetables, fish, poultry and egg dishes, cream cheeses and salad dressings. The delicate flavour is easily destroyed by heat, so add during the last few minutes of cooking time, or scatter them on a finished dish to garnish.
Snip the stems with scissors rather than chop them with a knife. They are essential in the French fines herbes together with chervil, parsley and tarragon. Snip finely and freeze in ice cube trays to preserve. The flowers make a pretty garnish.
information sourced from The Complete Book of Herbs
Thanks for such a wonderful read. I love chives, but never really thought about where they come from or how they grow. I love having a new appreciation for things I use daily
me too, it makes using my herbs more exciting 🙂
As I look at the snow outside, salads with chives seem a long way away. Nice post.
thanks Roger – at least you know the snow won’t last 🙂
I used to grow chives in my rose bed, as I had read that it keep the aphids away. Love to use them in cooking too. 😉
I know that Rue keeps the aphids away but at least chives are useful 🙂
Love chives, always one of the herbs that I have growing in the garden.
🙂 Mandy
me too, but the one I use the least somehow 🙂
I agree, I never knew they grew flowers like that, how wonderful!
I use the flowers in salads 🙂
I agree, I never knew they grew flowers like that, how wonderful! I voted for ya! Good Luck!
thanks for the vote Jen 🙂
And bees love them, even out here on the frozen tundra they come back every year, they are my first purple flowers!! c
oh, I did not know that! I will watch out for the bees 🙂
Every week you make me crave whatever you’re writing about!
that is a great compliment 🙂
I adore chives! I grow them in my garden every year,…bunches of them! 🙂
Your writing is so cool! 🙂
I love the pretty flowers the most 🙂
Hi Tandy, a lovely post and a great reminder about a fab herb. I also love chives for the simple reason that year on year they survive in the garden with little or no attention from me!
me too! Mine just go the distance 🙂
Tandy, one of the herbs we don’t grow – I must talk to Pete about planting some. Thanks for all the info! 🙂
It is so easy to plant and needs very little looking after 🙂