Chives
Chives
Sow chive seeds at any time of year. Hardy, perennial, and easy to grow, the chopped stems and pink flowers add a fresh, mild green onion flavour to sandwiches, salads and baked potatoes. Clumps can be divided in spring or fall. If grown in containers, divide frequently enough to provide for constant lateral growth. Chives are surprisingly hardy and can be harvested all winter if given some protection from extreme cold. They are also quite drought tolerant, so they're good candidates for xeriscaping. The edible flowers are highly attractive to bumblebees, hoverflies, and other beneficial garden insects.
- Fresh, mild, green onion flavour
- Hardy and easy to grow
- Use stems and pink flowers
- Used dried flower stems in arrangements
- Excellent choice for the container herb garden
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Latin
Allium schoenoprasum & A. tuberosum
Family: Alliaceae
Difficulty
Easy
Season & Zone
Season: Cool season
Exposure: Full sun
Zone: Hardy to Zone 3
Timing
Start indoors from late winter through mid-spring, and transplant or direct sow once the soil has warmed in late spring. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 19°C (65°F).