GARDEN IDEAS
Growing Chives
(from '20 Everyday Herbs' - see below)
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Chives are easy to grow and produce purple or white edible flowers that can be used to garnish a meal, or dried and used in a flower arrangement. The bright green leaves are used in the kitchen and their delicate onion flavour enhances any meal.
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Chives are perhaps one of the easiest herbs to grow. They can be grown in pots outside or indoors on a windowsill. Placed in odd corners of the vegetable garden they will help deter pests from your crops. Allow them to spread and they will take over a whole patch of your herb garden.
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Chives are one of the few plants in the onion family that are easy to grow from seed. Prepare a well-drained seed tray with seed compost and lightly sow the seed on the surface. Sprinkle a fine layer of compost over the seeds and water using a mister or fine spray. Keep the compost damp and the seed tray in a warm place.
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Chives prefer a sunny spot but like a little shade when it gets very hot. The soil must be well-drained and all you really need to do is water them occasionally. For outside planting, mix some potting compost in with the soil you are planting into. If you are growing the plants on in pots or containers, use fresh potting compost and keep damp but not wet.
Root division:
In the autumn, the plant can be divided, providing it’s healthy and growing well. Gently fork up the whole plant taking care not to damage the roots, then carefully but firmly separate the clump of root into two or more pieces.
Plant each piece out immediately and water in.
Harvest by cutting with scissors from the outside of the plant. Cut down to about 2 inches (5cm). Herbs like to be used, so remember to cut them regularly.
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When the plant has finished flowering, cut the whole thing down to a couple of inches high and it will start producing fresh green chives again.
'20 Everyday Herbs' is a must-have if you're planning to grow some herbs this year - and why wouldn't you?! Download from your preferred store here -