Chives (Latin name - Allium schoenoprasum) - Hardy Perennial

Plant Height - 25cm/10″

Where to Sow - Indoors in pots or trays 7.5cm/3″ diameter

Outdoors - directly into the ground

Sowing time - March/April - temperature +16C/61F

How to Sow -

• 3 seeds per pot
• 12mm/0.50inch deep
• in a soil-based compost, not peat
• water well

After Germination

• place in light position (out of direct sunlight)
• when well rooted, thin & transplant so 1 plant per 7.5cm/3inch pot

Growing on

• harden off indoor raised plants
• move outside when no longer a danger of frost
• either:

keep in pots -

or plant in ground - in full sun, into well drained soil 15cm/6″ apart

Cut leaves with scissors close to the base as required or before flowering.

Uses of Chives

• salads, eggs and tomatoes
• Please let us know how you use chives, in the comments below

This is part of a series of posts about growing and using herbs. The date for HerbDay 2007 is Saturday, October 13