Growing chives with kids
Chives grow like tall grass, and produce flowers which you can eat too! The flowers also attract bees and butterflies. Chives are a member of the onion family, but taste milder. They're easy to grow and don't take up much room. You can grow them in the ground, containers, or a pot on your kitchen windowsill.
What you'll need:
• Chive seeds
• Container and compost
• A watering can
• Scissors for harvesting
Step 1: Sow your seeds
• Chives aren't fussy - they grow in sun or shade in any soil.
• Sow your seeds from April, directly onto the compost.
• Cover them with a layer of compost, and gently water.
• Seedlings will appear within two weeks.
Step 2: Look after your chives
• Thin your plants to 10cm apart when they're big enough to handle.
• Chives don't need much, except for a little water when it's dry.
• They die back in autumn but they'll return next spring.
Step 3: Harvest your chives
Cut fresh chives as and when you need them.
Image:
Kay Fochtman
• Your chives will be ready about three months after sowing the seeds.
• Snip some off with scissors when you need them.
• Always leave 5cm of leaves to continue growing.
• When they grow back you can cut more.
Types of chive:
There's plenty more information in the downloadable guide . Print it out for more detailed instructions and even more chive facts!
Click the image to download the full pdf guide