Chives have slender, round, hollow grass-like leaves 6 to 10 inches long. Globe-like pinkish-purple flowers shoot up in spring on stalks to 12 inches tall or more. Leaves rise from small scallion-like bulbs that grow in clumps. Once established, chives will grow for many years.
What do you use chives for?
Since chives have a milder flavor, they’re perfect to add to soups, dips, mashed or baked potatoes, fish, seafood dishes and omelets. Heat destroys their delicate flavor, so add chives to dishes at the last minute. To maximize their taste, thinly slice, chop or snip with kitchen shears before using.
Are chives edible?
While historically wild chives have been used medicinally, modern people use chives as a seasoning or on their own, sautéed as a vegetable. They impart a wonderful delicate onion flavor to soups and stew, and can even be pickled. The entire part of the plant can be eaten.
Where do chives grow best?
full sun
Chives thrive in full sun and well drained soil rich in organic matter. The easiest and most successful way of growing chives is planting rooted clumps in spring, after frost danger has passed. You can easily grow chives indoors in a bright, sunny location.
Do chives need full sun?
Sun: Chives thrive in full sun, but they will grow almost anywhere. If you are growing chives indoors, place them in a south-facing window or a spot that receives at least six hours of sunshine. Water: Keep the soil moist. Chives grow best when watered frequently, as long as there is proper soil drainage.
What part of chives can you eat?
Chives are edible: All parts of the chive plant are edible. The chive’s green foliage has a mild onion flavor making them a great addition to salads, scrambled eggs, and as a garnish. The purple blossoms are a colorful edible decoration that adds a light onion flavor.
How long do chives last?
How Long Do Chives Stay Fresh? If you plan on using fresh chives within four to six days, they can be safely stored at room temperature. However, your chives will remain crisp for ten to fourteen days if stored in the refrigerator. Frozen chives can be stored in the freezer for four to six months.
Are chives poisonous to humans?
When taken by mouth: Chive is LIKELY SAFE for most people in food amounts. But there isn’t enough reliable information to know if taking chive in the amounts found in medicine is safe or what the side effects might be. Taking too much chive can cause an upset stomach.
Are there any poisonous chives?
If the plant does not smell like onion, it is not meant to be eaten and could be poisonous. There are many Allium species, including giant Siberian chives (Allium ledebourianum), garlic and Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum), which grow in the same USDA plant hardiness zones.
Should I cut 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.
How often do you water chives?
Chives. For chives it is best to give the herb a thorough watering once or twice a week. You should then let the soil around the herb dry completely before you water again.
Should you let chives flower?
The chive plant will flower in late spring or early summer. The flowers are edible and taste best just after they have opened—they should look full and bright.
Do chives attract bugs?
Chives Attract Beneficial Insects
One reason that chives make such a good companion plant is that the blossoms attract pollinators and other good for the garden insects like bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps.
Do chives spread?
Will my chives spread? Neither onions chives nor garlic chives will spread, though the clump will get larger (like a bunching onion). However, garlic chives will reseed if the blooms are left on the plant long enough for seeds to mature and fall into the garden.
Do chives multiply?
Chives will multiply if flowers are allowed to seed out. Mature plants can be divided and transplanted every few years.
Can chives be eaten 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.
What are the health benefits of chives?
Chives are extremely rich in flavonoid antioxidants, which contribute to most of the benefits. These antioxidants help fight cancer, improve heart health, and can even fight inflammation. They also detoxify the body and boost skin health. And the fiber in them can help ease the digestive process.
Are chive flowers poisonous?
Chives belong to the Allium family (which also includes onion, garlic, and leeks) and are poisonous to dogs and cats.
Do chives stink?
Chives smell a lot like they taste. The aroma they have is like an onion, but a bit more mild and less pungent with a slight herb-like scent.
How do you harvest chives without killing the plant?
Once your chive plant has reached a height of 6″, you can start to gently harvest them. This won’t kill your plant. Using sharp, clean scissors, cut the required amount, making sure not to disturb the plant’s bulb. Cut approximately 2-4″ above the base of the plant and it will happily grow back, time and time again.
What is another name for chives?
Chives, scientific name Allium schoenoprasum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae that produces edible leaves and flowers.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.