How to plant chives: the best tips and tricks
Chives are grown beyond their pure purpose as an aromatic and culinary plant. It also has a very pronounced decorative component, which allows us to grow it in larger quantities than necessary, without fear that the product will remain. Before we focus on how to plant chives, it is worth knowing that if we want it to only benefit from lovely leaves, we must constantly prune it to renew itself, so we will always have dainty leaves. On the other hand, if we want to exploit its edible flowers, which are also very decorative on the plate, we must avoid pruning some of them so that they bloom at the right time, between the end of spring and the end of spring. summer in the northern hemisphere.
In this article, we will learn all the details to learn how to plant chives and what aspects we need to take into account.
chives seeds
Chives can be grown in any type of urban garden, and can be propagated by dividing the bush and sowing. To do this, if we do not have an adult plant to benefit from its division, we first resort to sowing it.
You can find packets of chives seeds in specialized gardening stores. Thanks to them, we will have sufficient funds to cover our needs. Seed sachets are low-cost, usually around 3-4 grams. To get an idea of the seed volume, one gram usually contains between 200 and 400 seeds, depending on the variety and caliber chosen, all of them have a very high germination rate during their period of exploit.
For professionally cultivated urban gardens, chives seeds are purchased from farm supply companies and sachets are usually larger, starting at 100 grams. These seeds are more of a higher caliber seed selection as they are expected to be higher in the specialty market. This does not mean, however, that we abrogate the above.
Let’s pay attention to the expiration date of the envelope and throw away those that have expired. These containers contain some basic information about its cultivation, which will be very useful when determining the dates of sowing, planting, cultivation and harvesting.
Growing chives in a pot
On an urban patio or balcony garden, it is perfect for planting in pots or pots. We’re lucky if we keep them facing north or in the shade for long periods of time during the day, because chives need shade.
When the chives seedbed is ready and sprouts, plant them in pots with a diameter of 14-20 cm, planting about five bunches: one in the middle and four around, evenly spaced from the center. Over time, they will take up the entire pot and every year we divide them and transplant them into two or more pots.
If we plant it in a window frame, the distance between the bushes can be about 10 cm and, as in the previous case, over time they will occupy the entire surface, it is recommended to tear them out and replant them every two years. .
The height of the pot or pot does not have to be too high because chives have a root system it can grow perfectly at 15 or 20 cm.
The indicated soil is fertile, prosperous in humus and a little wet, knowing that it perfectly supports those that are a little calcareous. Of those that are on the market, those produced specifically as urban garden substrates can be used, although general exploit substrates or planting substrates can be used, we need to improve them by providing 20 to 30% of garden soils that are somewhat clayey. because they contain excess organic substances.
It is ideal, in addition to a bit of shade, to keep the soil wet, so regular watering is required, without overdoing it and overwatering it. Miniature doses of liquid fertilizers can be added with each irrigation or every 15 days. This, in addition to being balanced, must contain trace elements to avoid deficiencies and obtain hearty leaves with good color. Remember that we will exploit them as a decorative element on many occasions, with the difference that they will add a dainty flavor to the spring onions.
From there, just watch it grow and harvest the leaves, cutting them off about two inches from the bottom, to exploit in the kitchen.
How to plant chives
Chives are one of the ideal plants to grow indoors, right in the kitchen, along with other herbs such as mint, parsley, basil and others. In this case, we will exploit a smaller pot than recommended above and plant one to three bunches spread on the surface.
Please note that in this case, as in the case of pots and pots, chives can be sown directly, spreading the seeds at a distance of about two centimeters, and when they germinate, remove the weakest ones or simply enhance them at intervals. In this case, after planting, cover them with the same planting substrate about a centimeter, and we will water, keeping the soil wet throughout the plantation.
It is worth placing one or more pots in the kitchen as close to the window as possible, because although it likes shadows, the airy will make them take on more intense colors. A recommended practice is to replace plants grown in the kitchen with other plants on the balcony so that they are recovered from the interior of the kitchen. Remember that all aromatic and flavored plants are outdoor plants.
How to plant chives in the field or garden
Chives are grown in the field or garden directly on the ground. In both cases, we can plant them in rows, creating borders that will have a particularly decorative appearance when flowering.
It can be planted from seeds directly or in a nursery. A suitable time is delayed winter. If we do it directly, we will arrange them in rows about 20 cm apart, and we will skinny the plants every 3-4 cm so that they start growing intensively. Remember that over time, each petite plant will produce many buds, creating a compact mass of leaves.
If we do it as a seedbed, It is recommended to leave about 8 to 10 cm between plantings or about 25 cm in the case of division with bushes. As we have already predicted, we will choose shaded places for planting it, although it tolerates direct sunlight. The land must be fertile and ensure that there is no lack of moisture during cultivation.
Once planted, chives can be stored in the field or garden for several years. Although it is recommended to pull and replant for cleaning every three years, the truth is that it can survive for over 10 years without compromising growth or foliage quality.
Once planted, we can start collecting leaves after three months. Two of them have buds if we plant them, less if we plant them by dividing the bushes. As for the climate, it is frosty and frigid, with some resistance to moderate frosts.
Few pests and diseases attack chives during cultivation. Only the onion fly (a fly insect that also attacks onion crops) and thrips. In case of diseases, if there is too much moisture, only on the roots.
I hope that thanks to this information you will learn more about how to plant chives and what aspects you should pay attention to.