chives - Allium schoenoprasum
Full sun.
Jul–Sep depending on sowing time.
Mar–May outdoors after risk of frost.
40–60cm height; 30–50cm spread.
Overview
A clump-forming herb with mild onion flavour. Grow in sun and well-drained soil, and pick little and often to keep plants bushy. Snip into omelettes, potatoes, salads and dips.
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Vegetable Type: Chives
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Key Characteristic: Mild onion-flavoured leaves for salads and potatoes.
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Hardiness: Hardy (tolerates normal UK winter conditions).
PLANTING ADVICE
Grow in fertile, well-drained soil or compost. Suitable for both ground and pots.
- Outdoor cultivation
Grow outdoors in a sunny, well-drained position.
- Greenhouse cultivation
Not usually required for greenhouse cultivation.
CARE & HARVEST
Keep soil moist and weed free. Harvest little and often to keep plants bushy and productive. Remove flower stems where leafy growth is preferred. Trim back lightly after flowering to maintain shape.
- Watering: Water regularly to encourage soft, leafy growth.
- Feeding: Feed lightly with a general-purpose fertiliser during active growth; avoid overfeeding.
- Cutting and prunning: Remove any damaged or diseased growth as needed.
- Harvesting: Snip leaves regularly, ideally before flowering, for the strongest flavour.
- Pest and diseases: Monitor regularly for pests and remove affected growth promptly.
VERVE RECOMMENDS...
- Harvest little and often to keep plants productive and performing at their best.