Do Chives grow year round?
Chives are one of the easiest herbs to grow.As well as being attractive to both humans and pollinators for their bright purple flowers, they're flavorsome, not too picky about where you grow them, and are tough enough to cope with just about any weather conditions.All of that lovely oniony top growth dies in the winter.
I miss the clumps of knee-high, pencil-thin green leaves that are available for last-minute dashes out to the herb garden or vegetable garden.To prepare soups, sandwiches, baked potatoes, and more.
It is possible to keep chives going for longer by forcing them.Potting them up and moving them under cover encourages the plants to produce fresh shoots that can be repeat-harvested for a long time.
If you want to make some new plants for free, divide the clump instead of bringing the whole plant indoors.It's important to divide the plant every few years to keep it compact and productive.
If you want to force it indoors, divide it on a dry day in autumn when the soil is moist but not wet.Lift the clump with a fork and shake it off.Instead of being a single plant, chives are made up of clumps of bulbs.Sometimes you can separate small clumps of chives using just your hands, but a hand fork makes the job easier.
One of the clusters of bulbs should be replanted back into the garden.You don't miss out on the great taste of fresh chives next year if you have a strong established plant that is ready to be harvest in the fall.
If you want to use your own home-made potting blend, you can put the other sections into pots.Water well if you want to cut back the tired foliage.A cold frame, greenhouse, hoop house, or even a sunny windowsill are all good places to put them.Make sure to keep an eye on their water levels.
New leaves will soon sprout from your chives.Harvest the new shoots once they reach 10 cm tall to ensure a continuous supply.
You should be able to extend your growing season by a couple of months if you continue harvesting the plants all winter.You can snap off what you need at any time if you freeze the leaves.
Being in active growth is exhausting for plants, so next year give them a rest.If you replant one of the clumps, you'll still have a good supply over the summer.
It's not just chives that can be treated this way, other perennial herbs such as mint and French tarragon can also be forced for continued use during the winter months.
When the spring arrives, what to do with the new plants?If you have the space, you can plant them in the ground or in containers in your garden, as they will grow in sun or partial shade, and will cope well with poorer soils.
Chives are ideal for growing next to a vegetable garden as bees and other insects are drawn to the purple flowers, or you can use them as low edging for beds or paths in the cottage garden style.
Extra plants can be given away to friends and relatives.I've rarely had the offer of free chives refused because of the plant's good looks and easy-going nature.