Chives

• members of the onion family
• easy to grow herb
• mild, delicate flavour
• very easy to grow, indoors & outside.

They grow like clumps of grass. It is the spiky, tubular green leaf that is used.

Chives are eaten fresh, as the flavour is destroyed by cooking. For storage, they do freeze well (use ice cubes) but our plants survive the winters well in the vegetable garden.

Chives are rich in vitamin A & C.

To use:

• chop leaves:
  • to flavour salads, soups, fish & potatoes
  • as a garnish
• cut the leaves just above soil level
• wash
• leave fresh, no need to cook
• chop in to small pieces

The blue flower heads are edible & used as a garnish

To grow either plant:

• seeds

• split clumps of bulbs

Companion planting in the vegetable patch:

• chives planted alongside carrots deter carrot fly
• chives under roses are said to deter aphids

Click on the image below to go to Amazon.co.uk to find out more about this book entitled The New Book of Herbs.