Sow and Grow Chives

Sow and Grow Chives

Chives are perennial plants so they keep on giving and are in the Onion Family.

Indoor Sowing Tips:  1) Start a group of about 10 seeds inside about 1 1/2 to 2 months before your average last frost date in a small container under grow lights.  2) Sow the seeds about 1/4 ” deep. 3) Water them from below.  4) You can transplant chive seedlings in mid to late spring and you don’t need to thin the group of seedlings.  Don’t forget to harden off the chive seedlings before transplanting.

Outdoor Sowing Tips:  1) Start a group of about 10 seeds outside about 1 1/2 months before your average last frost.  A good rule of thumb is for the temperature to be between 60°F to 70°F.  2) Sow the seeds about 1/4 ”  deep.  3) Use a watering can to give them some moisture until its warm enough for your drip system to be turned on.  4) You don’t need to thin the seedlings.

Chives are one of the first perennial herbs to appear in early spring!

Growing Tips:  5) Use a drip system to water. 6) To encourage new growth, trim the flowers stems and/or chive leaves back to a few inches above the ground .  7) To keep the plant tidy, healthy and compact, I dig up some of the chive side shoots early in the season and share with friends.   I try to keep my chive plant around 12 inches wide.  If you let it, it will keep expanding!

 

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