Description
Chives makes a great savoury garnish adding zest to any salad. Try chive butter or frozen chive cubes. Grow chives close to carrots as it is said to improve their growth and deter carrot fly and next to roses to help control black spot. It also makes excellent organic insecticide.
Prepare the ground well and rake to a fine tilth before sowing. Sow seeds early spring outdoors 12mm deep in rows 30cm apart. They can also be started off under glass and planted out later. Germination usually takes 6-21 days at 18-21C. When large enough to handle thin out to 15cm apart and transplant in late spring to their final positions 3cm apart. They prefer ordinary well drained garden soil, sun or part shade.