Allium schoenoprasum
schnittlaugh ( Allium schoenoprasum ) are among my favored herb to grow , second only tolavender .
If you have yet to include this beloved herb in your garden , you are missing out on one of the most rewarding plant to grow – ever . I ’m not exaggerating .
These brave perennials are very comfortable to cultivate and are ideal for those who are just begin out with herb gardening .
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Chives are also ornamental , the pretty blossom attracting a plethora of butterfly stroke and other beneficial worm – which makes them idealistic for associate planting .
Functional and beautiful , I really ca n’t say enough about Allium schoenoprasum .
In this template , I ’ll cover how to grow these flavorous herbs . Here ’s what ’s ahead :
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Grow
Where to grease one’s palms
criminal maintenance
extension
Pests and Disease
Harvesting
Cooking Ideas
A. schoenoprasumisa member of the onion ( or Alliaceae ) family , native to Asia and Europe , where the industrial plant has been used medicinally for centuries .
There is debate as to whether the metal money is also native to North America , or simply naturalized here .
vulgar name(s):Chives
plant life character : Perennial herbaceous plant
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):3 - 10
Native to : Asia , Europe
Bloom prison term / season : Summer
Exposure : Full to part sunshine
Soil character : Fertile , organically - racy , well draining
stain pH:6.0 - 7.0 , slightly acidic to neutral
meter to maturity:60 days
Spacing : 8 - 10 inches
Planting depth:1/4 in ( seed ) , same depth as ascendant system ( transplant )
Mature size:12 inch across-the-board x 12 - 24 inches high
Water need : Moderate
Taxonomy
Order : Asparagales
fellowship : Amaryllidaceae
Genus : Allium
mintage : Schoenoprasum
These minuscule plant form bulbous root , growing in clumps which can easily be divided every two to four years .
Reaching summit between 12 and 24 column inch , private plants are low - growing and heavyset , ordinarily no more than 12 inches wide .
Their narrow , hollow leaves are hopeful green , and striking imperial rounded flowers look in May or June .
With a mild onion - like flavor , chives are ideal for use on omelets , salads , pizza , parched potatoes , and so much more .
The flowers are also comestible – you could add them to salads as a pretty , tasty garnish . Plus they make attractive additions tocut blossom arrangement .
Allium schoenoprasum arehardy in Zones 3 to 10and can be overwintered indoors in cold area .
This herb make an excellent fellow traveller to a form of veggie and herbaceous plant , fromparsleyandrhubarbtosquashand nightshades , likeeggplant , tomatoes , potatoes , andpeppers .
Now that you ’re better acquainted , it ’s meter to get growing !
Widespread throughout North America , chives are adaptable to most garden condition .
But for the healthiest and most generative plants , you ’ll want to keep the following in creative thinker :
Light
If potential , choose a site infull sun , one that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each mean solar day .
They will do fine in fond sun as well if that ’s all you have useable – in my experience they can stand as few as four hours of verbatim sun .
Soil
Chives love prolific , organically - robust , well - draining grime with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 .
To encourage robust ontogeny throughout the time of year , add organic compost to the soil at the clock time of planting .
Keep in brain that root buncombe is potential if dirt is especially poor draining .
Fertilizing
It ’s always a good idea toconduct a soil testbefore adding any fertilizer .
you could use a mild , balanced fertilizer , with an NPK ratio of 4 - 4 - 4 or similar at planting sentence and once in the bound .
Atop dressing with compostis usually enough unless your soil is very consume .
Water
Water fresh transplants and seedlings on a regular basis in the absence of pelting .
When they are established , chives can be quite drought - patient of , but for best results , keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged .
During the heat of summer be especially open-eyed about watering , if you want the most flavorful herbs with gamey yield .
If you aregrowing your chives in containers , be cognisant that the soil in wad typically dry out out faster than in the terra firma and they may need to be watered more frequently .
In accession to the vulgar diverseness , North American gardeners may come across garlic chives ( A. tuberosum ) , gargantuan Siberian schnittlaugh ( A. ledebourianum ) , and Siberian Allium sativum chives ( A. nutans ) .
Each of these species has a different flavor .
chive
A. schoenoprasumseeds areavailable from High Mowing Seeds .
For something a little different , A. tuberosumaka garlic chives seed areavailable from reliable Leaf Market .
Garlic Chive Seeds
This metal money produces attractive white-hot efflorescence .
you’re able to learn more about garlic chives here .
If you ’re in the first place develop chives to habituate in the kitchen , consider bring down off flower bud before they flower . Doing this will advance more vigorous growth .
to boot , by not take into account flowers to go to seed , you will keep chives from spread into areas of your garden where they are n’t want .
Deadheading , the process of removing drop bloom , will help to further new prime , if that is what you favour .
Dividing plants every two to four yearshelps to promote healthy growth . more often than not , the best meter to divide is in tardy winter to early leaping .
you may also split up the clumps in former fall , just be certain to give plants enough time to become established before the first frost .
Mulch
Mulch with compost , wood chips , or pine chaff to aid retain wet , suppress weeds , and tally additional organic matter to the soil .
Winter Care
To overwinter , you’re able to savvy up or divide be plants and pot them up in small containers .
you may grow them on a south - face windowsill through the winter , and plant out again in the saltation .
Another option for overwintering is to set them in a container ab initio . When temperatures start dropping , move the container indoors .
propagate chives is very easy . you’re able to pick out to bulge out from seeded player or if you or a ally have an existing clump , you’re able to propagate them by division .
From Seed
If you choose to sow seeds it ’s best tostart them indoorseight to 10 weeks before the last give frost .
you may also point sow seeds alfresco as soon as the grease is workable .
Keep in mind if you direct sow outside , you may not live much of a harvest or bloom until the following twelvemonth , when plants have a chance to become establish .
you may learn to get down chives from seed here .
By Division
To separate an exist clump , irrigate the works out front of clip .
geld the farewell back to just a few inches above the dry land . Use a pitchfork to dig up the glob , and softly tap the roots on the ground to break up the solution ball a bit .
Then simply perpetrate the ascendant ball aside to make smaller ball . Do n’t worry too much about damaging or rip the roots , chives are knotty .
admit back on harvesting newly divided plants for a few week , or until they are establish .
Transplanting
Whether you have grow your own seedling or purchased glasshouse beginning , be certain to indurate off your young industrial plant before put them in the ground .
Prepare your soil by loosen it to about six inch down , amend with compost , and add a footling backbone to improve drainage if necessary .
toil holes the same size as the containers your plants are currently farm in , slay the plant from the pot , setting it in the maw . Backfill with soil and piddle in well .
If you found your cive in a chemical group , space them eight to 10 inches apart , to allow them to fill in and mould a clump . This work on well if you want to create a formal edge or border .
If you prefer seeing some mulch in between your plants or are planting them within acottage dash garden , space them a minimum of one foot away from other plant .
Managing Pests and Disease
Chives are generally resilient and low - maintenance , which is part of their charm . But that does n’t mean they ’re completely resistant to pest and disease problems .
permit ’s take a flavour at the most common issue you might encounter and how to handle them .
Pests
Thoughdeer , rabbits , and other herbivores run to give schnittlaugh a pas thanks to their potent oniony scent , insects are n’t always deterred .
Aphids are the most vulgar perpetrator . These tiny , lenient - bodied pests congregate on the foliage , feeding on sap and causing yellowing or curling .
You might also spot the sticky rest they leave behind , call in honeydew , which can attract sooty mold .
A strong spray of waterfrom the hosecan knock them off , or you may apply insecticidal liquid ecstasy as need .
ascertain more about lot with aphid here .
Onion maggots ( Delia antiqua ) , while more common in larger allium crops like onions andshallots , may occasionally assail chives .
The larvae tunnel into the root , lead to yellowing leave-taking and stunted growth .
float row coverscan help keep the adult fly from laying egg .
Thrips can also direct your herbs , especially in dry weather .
These svelte louse depart flatware streak or speckle damage on the leaf as they bung . Neem oil is an effective discussion for light infestations .
larn more about how to bring off thrips here .
Disease
These herb do n’t suffer from a foresightful list of diseases , but a few fungous pathogens can become an issue in the right field – or haywire – circumstance .
Downy mildew is one of the primary concern . This disease is because of fungus - similar pathogens called class Oomycetes and they flourish in coolheaded , damp environments .
symptom let in grayish patches on the folio . You might also see the tips start to browned and break back .
Rust is another fungous foe . It shows up as small orange or brown pustule on the foliage , damp the plant over prison term .
Remove and dispose of septic leaf as you see it . nullify working among the works when they ’re wet , as this can spread spores .
in conclusion , Botrytis , also known as hoar mold , may rise if chives are overcrowded , grow in poorly draining grime , or exposed to prolonged moisture .
This fuzzy , gray growth typically initiate on older or discredited leaves . Cut out affected parts and give your plants a bit more breathing elbow room .
Harvesting in the early first light is favor , before the hotness from the sun dehydrates the leaves .
To reap , wrap your hand around a chunk of leaves and cut with clean , sharp-worded scissors or a knife a couple of inches above the crown .
leave some putting surface at the understructure of the plant allows it to regenerate .
I like to store new glean leaves in water to keep them immobile and fresh .
Fill a glass with a couple of column inch of water , make a fresh cutting at the base of the leaf , and bear them just in the glass . Replace the water regularly – daily if needed .
Another corking way to store chive is wrapped in a moist composition towel and placed in a plastered plastic bag in the electric refrigerator .
The parting can bedriedorfrozen , but they lose a lot of flavor this way and are best deplete unused .
Chives are versatile in the kitchen , and can be used in a variety of dissimilar dishes from omelet to salads , and to add smell to quiches .
Chopped up in cottage cheese or as a garnish for bollock salad , a sprinkle of chives adds flavor to so many recipes .
They are a classical pairing with tater , andour sis internet site , Foodal , has a terrific formula for German white potato vine salad which features chives as well as gherkin pickles and their juice .
If you enjoy baking , this recipe for sourdough biscuits with cheese and chives , also on Foodal , is trusted to be a smash .
A Multipurpose Gift from the Garden
This promiscuous - to - grow plant offer beauty , food , and pest - repellant properties , so what ’s quit you from adding versatile spell to your garden ?
Do n’t forget to put some in a kitty near the kitchen , or even on a sunny kitchen windowsill for easy access code .
And for moreinformation about growing culinary herbaceous plant , check out these guides next :
© require the Experts , LLC . ALL rightfulness RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally published March 16 , 2019 . Last update March 22 , 2025 intersection photos via High Mowing Organic Seeds and True Leaf Market . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock . With extra writing and editing by Clare Groom .
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Amber Shidler
