Sowing & Growing

Sow the seeds directly in pre-watered drills at a depth of 12mm, spacing them in rows 30cm apart, and lightly cover them with fine soil. Expect germination in 10-15 days. Once the seedlings are sufficiently large, thin them to every 15cm. Alternatively, you can sow them under glass, maintaining a temperature of around 20°C. Pot them on and then plant them out in late spring, spacing them at 15cm intervals.

Care for the chives by ensuring they are well-watered. After a couple of years, consider dividing the chives in March or October to prevent the bulbs from becoming congested and less productive. Divide a clump into smaller clumps and pot them up immediately, yielding new plants at no cost. While chives are generally perennial and evergreen, extremely cold winters may cause them to die back, with regrowth occurring in spring. Applying a thick layer of mulch around the plant in autumn can provide some protection.

Harvest the chives 10 weeks from spring sowings onwards. As perennials, they can be picked from April to October, and if potted up in September, they can be harvested for an additional 6 weeks. Use sharp scissors to cut the chives, leaving 5cm of chive leaf. Begin by cutting the outside leaves first and work inwards as needed, allowing them to regrow.