When Should You Pick Chives?

You may begin picking chives 30 days after transplanting or 60 days after sowing seed when the leaves are at least 6 inches (15 cm.) tall. The plant will produce more abundantly in its second year and thereafter you can continue to pick at will over the course of the summer and in mild climates through the winter.

How do you know when chives are ready to pick?

How to Harvest Chives

1. Begin harvesting chive leaves about 30 days after you transplant or 60 days after seeding.
2. Be sure to cut the leaves down to the base when harvesting (within 1 to 2 inches of the soil).
3. Harvest 3 to 4 times during the first year.
4. The chive plant will flower in late spring or early summer.

Will chives regrow after cutting?

Clip leaves from the outer portion of the plant first, making sure not to clip all of the plant at once. If you make a mistake and cut back all of the plant, no worries. It will grow back the following year. Wait to harvest your chives when the plant is at least six inches tall.

How do you keep chives fresh after picking?

Store fresh cut chives in an air tight container between damp paper towels. Store the container in the crisper draw of your refrigerator. Check the chives every couple of days and replace the paper towels as needed.

Should I let my chives bloom?

Chives are common herbs that get beautiful little purple flowers in early summer. Just like most plants, chives will benefit from regular pruning to keep them looking nice, and growing their best. It’s also important to deadhead chives after they bloom, or they will spread all over your garden.

Can you eat chives raw?

Their pungent flavor is best enjoyed when chives are taken straight from the garden. The most common way to eat chives is to chop them into small ringlets and sprinkle them on cooked food as a garnish. However, chives can be enjoyed raw or cooked in larger quantities.

Do chives come back every year?

Harvest the leaves and flowers as and when you need to. Chives are perennial so will come back year after year. They grow well in pots but are best suited to growing in the ground.

Should I cut my chives down?

Cut the leaves as required with scissors, snipping close to the base – the more often they’re harvested, the more new leaves will be produced. To keep chives productive, remove faded flowers or use the edible blooms when young to brighten salads. Chives are best used fresh.

How long do chives last in the garden?

According to the University of Minnesota Extension, chives should be divided every three to four years.

Is it better to freeze or dry chives?

If you’re using chives in only one or two recipes, consider freezing a small amount and testing how those recipes turn out. If they’re a-okay, freezing chives is a good option for you. If not, stick to using them fresh. Overall, chives don’t last long, so freezing is the best solution if you have too much on hand.

What do you do with too many chives?

Dry for future use – chives dehydrate easily and can be used throughout the year in soups and stews, eggs and other savory dishes. Just make sure to dry them slowly on low heat to keep them from turning brown. Join a produce exchange – bring your leftovers to a local produce exchange so others can enjoy them too.

How do you dry chives at home?

3. Drying Chives in the Oven

1. Preheat the oven to about 170 degrees Fahrenheit or to the lowest temperature setting.
2. Cut the chives into 1/4-inch pieces.
3. Spread them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and leave it in the oven for 1-2 hours.
4. When the chives crumble between your fingers, they are dry enough.

Do you cut the purple flowers off chives?

Cut the flower stalks off at the soil line to prevent the plant from forming seeds. This will encourage the plant to keep producing leaves, and you can utilize the flowers as garnish or tossed into salads. Chives can be used both fresh and dried but they lose quite a bit of their flavor when dried.

Can you eat the purple flowers on chives?

Yes! These purple flowers that grow on the chive plant are not only beautiful, they can be eaten too. Chive flowers have a light onion-y flavor. They can be eaten with eggs, as a garnish for soups, and thrown into salads.

Should chives be deadheaded?

Trimming them back will help to promote new growth on the plant, and the tender new growth will be the tastiest of the produce. If you don’t deadhead chives, the plant can become overgrown, woody and even flop to the ground.

Does chives lower blood pressure?

Chives also contain quercetin, which may reduce the risk of plaque buildup in arteries. Studies show that people who follow a diet high in flavonoids such as quercetin have lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure levels.

What part of the chive do you use?

All parts of chive plants are edible, including the bulbs, foliage, and flowers. Of course, the most common part to use is the tender new leaves.

Are chives good for kidneys?

Adding a small portion of chives as part of the routine diet helps in preventing cancer and safeguarding the liver, kidneys, stomach from tissue damage and organ failure.

What do you do with chives in the winter?

Forcing Chives
Cut back the existing tired foliage, and water well. Site them somewhere well-lit under cover – a cold frame, greenhouse, hoop house or even a sunny windowsill indoors are all fine. Keep an eye on their moisture levels, and make sure not to over-water.

What can you not plant with chives?

Grapes, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, eggplant, kohlrabi, mustard, peppers, potatoes, rhubarb, roses, squash, and strawberries all do better when growing near chives. Asparagus, beans, peas, and spinach, however, have a harder time growing when planted near chives.

Do chives flower more than once?

It’s time to trim the flowering part when the chives have bloomed. By now, the first half of the tuft has grown nicely. This half will start to bloom later in summer and then I’ll repeat the cycle. Very handy!