Chives Seed
Chives are members of the lily family grown for their leaves and flowers, which are equally popular in the garden and in the kitchen. Both onion and garlic chives are grown and used in a similar fashion. Some gardeners use onion and garlic chives as a perennial edging or border plant in a flower border or an herb garden. They also grow well in containers, both alone and in combination with other long-lived herbs such as rosemary.
Growing onion chives? You're not alone. Many gardeners grow them for their leaves and rosy purple flowers, both of which boast a mild onion flavor. They grow well in the ground or any pot, even a small one, or the pockets of a strawberry jar.
Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum), also known as Chinese chives, are grown for their mildly garlic-flavored leaves and pretty white flowers. The leaves are flat, not hollow like those of onion chives (Allium schoenoprasum).
Informative articles found on the web:
Youtube video on growing chives
Chives are one of the easiest and most rewarding herbs to grow in containers, producing neat clumps of slender, onion-flavored leaves that can be clipped fresh whenever needed. Their mild flavor is excellent for baked potatoes, soups, salads, eggs, dips, vegetables, and herb butters.
In addition to being a useful kitchen herb, chives are also very attractive in the garden or on the patio. In late spring to early summer, plants produce charming round lavender-purple flower heads that are loved by bees and other pollinators. The blooms are edible as well and can be sprinkled over salads for color and a light onion flavor.
Chives grow well in pots, window boxes, herb gardens, and raised beds. Plants prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Keep containers evenly moist and trim regularly to encourage fresh new growth. Once established, chives are hardy perennials in many areas and will return year after year.
A dependable choice for beginners and experienced gardeners alike, chives are both ornamental and practical, making them a perfect herb for patios, porches, kitchen gardens, and small-space growing.
The flowers produced from Garlic Chives herb seeds bloom during the summer months which is much later than traditional chives. These blooms are also edible, and they attract bees as the nectar in this herb is rich. Many gardeners even cut the blooms for indoor flower arrangements. They dry well for dried arrangements too.
Like most of the Allium family, Garlic Chives plants do have a small bulb that can be used like a small green onion. You may harvest these small bulbs while the flower is still a bud. Harvest the leaves as desired once they are about 6 inches long. Pick the leaves from the base by hand. Garlic Chives leaves are very soft and quickly lose freshness. Like Chives, Garlic Chives may be frozen.
It is a versatile plant, the seeds can be used as sprouts, the leaves snipped for use in salads or the whole plant pulled up. It is often grown in a bunch as an ornamental plant.The Red Welsh is an old form of the perennial bunching onion with very decorative red stalks and a slightly stronger flavoured than the white variety.
It is also slightly hardier. It is distinguished from the bulb onion by its round hollow leaves and only slight bulb formation. They are an interesting addition to a vegetable plot or herb garden that, once established, tend to look after themselves.
The flowers are attractive to bees, while the whole plant is an effective insect repellent. It is very easy to grow from seed, extremely hardy and pest resistant. It will grow from cold regions right through to hot, tropical areas.
Geisha is a great culinary herb for use in stir-fries, soups, compound butter, and as a fresh garnish for a variety of dishes. Although late flowering is a good thing in herbs, when Geisha does burst into bloom, the butterfly inhabitants in your garden will be very happy!
