How To Grow Chives: Edible Flowers, Harvesting & Garden Benefits
Updated: Sep 4
Add flavor and color to your garden by growing edible flowers
What Are Chives?
We've probably all had chives at some point in our lives - but do you know what they are? Typically found topping your creamy potato soup or a baked potato, chives are part of the onion family and are also edible flowers.
Chives grow tall, typically around 12", and have beautiful colored edible flowers on top. Both the greens and the flowers have an onion flavor. The edible flowers are perfect for adding to salads.
Why You Should Grow Chives As Edible Flowers
Chives are more than a garnish for potatoes and soup. If being easy to grow, producing edible flowers, and not taking up much space in the garden sound great to you, read this article!
In addition to the color and flavor they will bring to your garden, chives also help deter pests and are a "cut and come again" plant.
Not only will you get the above benefits, but you can cut chives 3-4 times during a season! In some zones, chives are a perennial; check your zone here.
How To Grow Chives
Chives are best grown in spring and fall as they are a "cool weather" crop. You can start chives indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. If you choose to plant directly in the soil, plant when the soil is workable in the spring. It's important to note that chives need temperatures between 60-70 degrees to germinate, and can take a few weeks to sprout.
How To Harvest Chives
When it comes time to harvest chives, you can cut as much as you need, and they will grow back. If you are interested in the flower head, those should be trimmed off when the flower is fully open and bright purple. If the purple color is faded, they will have less flavor,
Harvest chive flowers the day you plan to use them for best results.
Chives As Companion Plants
Chives, similar to onions, help deter aphids, mites, Japanese beetles, and even rabbits! You can companion plant them with carrots and tomatoes, where both plants will benefit from the other. I prefer to plant a "border" in my garden of chives & onions, double-layered for additional protection from bugs.
Comments