Chives were the first herb i grew from a packet in a windowsill box. I never bother weeding out the seeds as i feel this is a waste of money so i let all the seeds grow on to mature- mistake with this plant. At the end of the summer the windowsill box had become full with chives and they had got really overcrowded and started to rot- not good. I decided to clear a patch in the garden and split them and plant directly in the garden. This has worked fine and i still get chives regrowing year after year (as they are really a bulb) 4 years later. This plant is easy to propagate- allow the flowers to develop, you will see black seeds in the flower head. I find it's easier to cut the head of and then shake over a pirce of paper on a table. The seeds can be sown the next spring and will soon give a bountiful supply of chives. This plant is low maintenace, originally the windowsill box was in a well lit position getting sun all day, the location i planted in the garden was far different with only a couple of hours of sun in the morning. In both positions it grows fine and the scent when a leaf is crushed is pleasant. Since planting in the garden i have not had to water the chives as rain water has been sufficient. This plant is great for attracting wildlife as bees love the mauve coloured flowers. If your plants suffer from aphid attacks this is especially good to plant around those being attacked, such as roses as the chemiclas in the chives are absobed by the other plant and this deteres the aphid. The uses of this herb are vast, i especially like adding it to potato salad to garnish. Simply take a pair of scissors to the base of a small clump, i find 2 or 3 stalks is usually enough for 1 person and then wash under the tap. Cut directly ontop of the food into small segments and thsi compeltes the meal. The sscent given of when chives are cut is pleasnat and they taste of onion. SInce buying chives i have also bought Chinese Chives, these are similar but have a garlic taste and have white flowers- highly recommend if you like ordinary chives. If you find the tatse of chives strong you should cut the flowers of before they can develop as this makes the taste less intense. The plant can be invasive if left to its own devices, however this gives many flowers and creates a beautiful display of flowers for many months. The chives i planted in the garden have started to grow again now (in january)!
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Advantages: Wonderful smell, taste and goes perfectly with tomatoes for a divine salad sensation! Disadvantages: It's an annual that likes a but of sun. And I live in The Dark North!!!
phoenixgreen 26.05.2007 (25.05.2007)
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