As someone who loves to think ahead, I’m already dreaming up some of my garden plans for next year. There are a few non-negotiable must haves in my gardens, and chives are no exception! If you haven’t already included chives in your garden plan for next year (or this year, depending on what hemisphere you’re in!), then you definitely need to. This herb may be small, but it is mighty when it comes to benefits to your garden and your cooking. Here are a few of my fav things about growing chives!
Seed Starting & Planting
When it comes to starting your chive seeds, you’ll want to start them indoors in February, and transplant them into your garden in March (don’t forget to harden them off to avoid shocking them!). If starting from seed isn’t in the cards for you, you can also purchase starters and plant them directly in your garden in March as well. I highly recommend getting your starters from a local farm or nursery.
They Offer Some of the First Blooms for Pollinators in the Spring!
Did you know that your chives blossoms are some of the first blooms for your local pollinators to feed on in the spring? Well, if you didn’t, you know now! I love looking out at the garden and seeing the blooms start to open and the bees finding the flowers. It feels like the kick off to the garden season.
Those Same Blooms Taste Delicious for Your Cooking
And those same blooms that feed our pollinators are a great addition into our home cooking as well! Most people know that chives themselves are great to finish off a plate of scrambled eggs, in a salad or in a dressing, but did you know that the chive blossoms are also edible and have a delicious onion flavour? They are apart of the allium family afterall! We like to use them in butter, and in a vinaigrette that I make every year.
Chives are a Companion Plant for a TON of other crops!
This powerhouse herb doesn’t just taste great, but it also makes for an amazing companion plant for a wide selection of veggies and fruits in your garden! Plant them with tomatoes, peppers, brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts), carrots, lettuce and even strawberries.
They’re Great for Pest Control in your Garden
Alongside being a great companion plant in your garden, they’re also useful at keeping pests away from your crops. They naturally repel aphids, Japanese beetles and carrot rust flies, so you can see why they make such great companion plants with some of the above listed crops! They also naturally repel mosquitos and gnats, so they make for great pest control for you while in your garden as well.
What are some of your fav things about growing chives? Let’s chat about them in the comments below!
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