| Allium Schoenoprasum, A.Tuberosum (Liliaceae) | | | | decorate a cheese board or cold cuts. Both |
| | | | flowers and leaves can be incorporated in salads |
| Appearance: | | | | and herb butters. |
| Chives look like trim tufts of grass and are ideal | | | | According to one of my herb garden information |
| for use as a path edging for both the kitchen | | | | sources, chives are widely held to be a blood |
| garden and the herb garden. As they mature the | | | | cleansing tonic and to fight flu or a cold. |
| leaves become circular and hollow, and reach | | | | Cultivation: |
| about 30 to 40 cms (12 to 15 in) in length. (Giant | | | | Divide established clumps of bulbs every three |
| chives grow a little taller). | | | | years in the spring, and transplant clusters from |
| Description: | | | | the outer edges of the clumps. Chives can be |
| Chives are very widely grown herbs, their | | | | raised afresh from seed. Although they thrive in |
| robustness makes them excellent material for | | | | any good garden loam, they show a marked |
| cultivation in pots or window-boxes with good | | | | preference for slightly acid soil and need to be |
| drainage. The flavor is refined and onion-like and is | | | | kept damp throughout the growing season. |
| best before the plants flower, or in plants that | | | | Choose a place where they can enjoy some |
| are prevented from flowering. | | | | shade during the day and remove the flower |
| Chinese chives or garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) | | | | heads to maintain a continuous supply of leaves. |
| form clumps in the same manner as their onion | | | | The foliage dies down in the winter, so mulch |
| chive cousins, but the grass-like leaves are flat. | | | | deeply with dry leaves to encourage a few early |
| The flavor is pleasant and resembles garlic. They | | | | plants. Pot up a clump of bulbs in the autumn (fall) |
| will grow up to 60 cms (2ft) tall with mauve/pink | | | | to keep in a porch or on the windowsill. In hot |
| flower heads all Summer. | | | | regions with temperatures above 32°C |
| Chives are known to attract bees to the garden. | | | | (90°'F) clumps can be planted out fresh in |
| Usage: | | | | the autumn (fall) to provide a winter supply of |
| When chopped as a garnish for cheese and egg | | | | leaves. |
| dishes, soups, salads, sandwiches and quiches, the | | | | Harvesting: |
| stem strips are added fresh just prior to serving. | | | | Although several herb garden information |
| Chives are rarely used in cooking as the mild | | | | authorities hold mildly differing views on this, you |
| flavour is overwhelmed. ln the garden allow | | | | can safely use as required -- no special rules apply. |
| several plants to flower for the purple/pink | | | | The flowering heads appear in Summer and can |
| display. Use flowers as a garnish in soups or to | | | | be used for salads. |