Chives

"… rounde knopped heades …"

Rembert Dodoens, A niewe Herball, 1578

Chives are a small member of the onion family with dainty flower heads (pale pink or mauve) in spherical clusters, that the bees just love. Chives grow like onion weed and look similar, but are a lot easier to get rid of if they get out of hand.

Some herbals say that chives are good for stimulating the appetite and promoting digestion. They give a nice mild onion flavour to foods. Garlic chives have a mild garlic and onion flavour, and have a white flower.

Companion Planting:

Likes carrots. Deters aphis on roses. Dislikes peas and beans. A tea infusion can be used as a spray for powdery mildew on cucumbers.

Growing:

Sow seed in Spring. It is said to be difficult to germinate (but not in the Illawarra). Once they flower, collect the seeds and replant when then stems start to thicken.

Harvesting:

Harvest all year round by cropping stems with scissors. Doesn’t dry well – freeze chopped chives instead.

Culinary Use:

Use the young green stems for garnishing soups, finely chop and add to salads, omelettes. The bulbs can be pickled like small onions.

© 2020 West Wollongong Garden Club Inc.