Grow Common Chives from freshly harvested Allium schoenoprasum herb seeds. Common Chives will produce shoots that grow to a mature height of roughly 18 inches tall. Popularly used to flavor potatoes and salads, Chives are not only tasty, but are also attractive as well. Each plant displays fluffy, purple colored flowers atop slender stems / shoots. The shoots, once cut will add a slight onion flavor to any dish that they are added to. The flowers also add a mild onion flavor and can be used as a garnish.
Categorized as a perennial herb plant, common chives will establish a deep root system, later wilting on the surface with the first frost. The plants will then return the following year after all danger of frost passes. The plants can be harvested soon after they reach a few inches tall. Chives not only look great, smell great and taste great, but they also drive away pesky insects as well. Grow Common chives near any vegetables or herbs that are being tormented by unwanted insects to instantly drive them away.
Quick Facts
- Type: Herb
- Season: Perennial
- Heirloom: Yes
- Color: Pink
- Height: 18″ Tall
- Width: 12″ Spread
- Harvest: 80 to 85 Days
- Uses: Medicinal / Culinary
- Environment: Full sun
Sowing The Seed
Chives are extremely easy to establish from seed. They can be started either indoors or outdoors. If started indoors, sow in peat pots, 6 to 8 weeks prior to the last frost. Place the small black seeds at a depth of 1/8” under topsoil. Transplant when the plants become 6 inches tall, or direct sow outdoors when all danger of frost has passed. You can transplant the entire peat pots into the earth as they will break down in time.
Growing Conditions
Chives will enjoy an area of full sunlight with temperatures of 60F to 70F. The soil should be rich and full of nutrients. Chives do not enjoy soils that are either too wet or too dry, so don’t overwater them as this can inhibit their growth. They do however require a soil that is well drained, so adding a light compost to any areas of hard, compact soil is best.
Germination & Growth
Your Chives will begin to show life within as little as 7 to 21 days after sowing. The plants will grow to a mature height of about 18 inches tall and can take up a fair amount of space. When the plant coverage becomes too thick, you might consider splitting the plants to maintain its compact growth. To harvest, simply cut anything you would like to use as a fresh additive to your culinary dishes. Pick the fluffy pink flowers to discourage dormancy in warmer weather.