Chives (Garlic)

Botanical Interests Heirloom Garlic Chives Seeds

Garlic chives are a versatile herb used widely in Asian cooking. When young, leaves and flower buds have a delicate aroma and a garlic flavor with hints of honey and onion. Add to stir-fries, scrambled eggs, soups, and noodles, or sprinkle on meats and fish. The plant comes back every year, is good for containers and indoor growing for fresh herbs all winter long. Edible flowers are loved by bees.

Sowing Information:

• Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, as soon as soil can be worked, or as late as 2 months before your first fall frost date, and when the soil temperature is at least 45°F, ideally 60°–70°F.
• When to Start Inside: 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date.
• Days to Emerge: 10–15 days
• Seed Depth: ¼ inch
• Seed Spacing: A group of 6 seeds every 8 inches
• Row Spacing: 8 inches apart or as desired
• Thinning: Not required

Growing Notes:

• Harvesting: FOLIAGE: When outer spears of chives are at least 6 inches long, cut back to 2 inches above ground level. Once or twice a season, shear plants to 2 inches above ground; this will keep the new, tender foliage available. FLOWERS: Harvest for dried flowers and consumption when in full bloom. FLOWER BUDS: Harvest when stems are 12 inches tall before bud has opened. NOTE: Some gardeners recommend not harvesting garlic chives the first year to allow the plant to strengthen. 
• Attributes: Drought tolerant, good for containers, attracts pollinators, deer resistant