12 Compelling Reasons To Grow Chives + How To Use Them

You don’t have to sport a green thumb to grow chives (allium schoenoprasum), they are almost a fail-proof crop and will build up your confidence to grow a variety of herbs. Chives, a relative to the onion, are hardy, drought tolerant perennials. They grow to be 8-20 inches high in mounds via underground bulbs.

Not only are chives pretty with their dainty purple blossoms and thin green hollow stalks, but they are amazingly delicious. What’s more, the entire plant including the leaves, blossoms, and even bulbs are edible.

Chives have a delicate, not overpowering onion flavor, and hollow green leaves that are so versatile in the kitchen they go with soups, salads, omelets or anything that needs just a touch of garlic flavor and a pretty accent.

Planting Chives

Where To Plant:

I have always planted chives throughout my gardens, in with my wildflowers, as borders in beds, in my veggie garden and also in contains on my decks and patios and even inside in a sunny window. They are so flexible and happy really anywhere that you put them as long as there is at least half a day of sunshine.

Starting Chives From Seeds Indoors:

Chives are super easy to start from seed. Start them indoors 10-12 weeks before the last suspected frost. This is because although they germinate quickly, chives grow slowly so you want to give them enough time to get going before it is time to put them outdoors.

Fill flats with a soilless peat-based mix. Sow 10-15 organic seeds per cell ½ inch deep and keep the flat consistently moist and at about 60-70 degrees F. Chives will germinate in seven days or so.

Transplanting Chives Outdoors:

In early spring, harden your chives and plant outdoors in a sunny area. Chives prefer soil that is moist, organic, rich and drains well. Before planting, work 6 inches of composted organic matter into the soil. Add 3 tablespoons of organic fertilizer per square foot of planting area. Space plants 4 to 15 inches apart and don’t let the soil dry out until plants mature.

Starting Chives From Seeds Outdoors:

You can also start chives directly from seed outdoors. Be sure to prepare the bed area as noted above.

Use a pointed twig to make a ¼ inch hole. Space the holes 8 to 12 inches
Drop one seed in each hole and press firmly with your fingers so that soil is packed around the seed
Water the planted area lightly
Check the soil daily until the seedlings emerge to be sure it is moist
As soon as the dirt covering your seed dries out, water again down to at least one inch
Water seedlings every five to seven days and soak several inches down so that roots get wet
Water regularly until chives are full grown – once established, chives will not require as frequent waterings
Once mature, add compost tea or other heavy nitrogen organic fertilizer
Mature chives benefit from this fertilization in the spring and late summer

Harvesting Chives

You can harvest chives about three months, as long as the plant is at least six inches tall. I like to just leave the chives in the ground and snip the tops as needed. Chives are hardy and vigorous and will come back even if you trim them all the way to the ground.

Harvesting Leaves:

Use clean garden shears or scissors to clip the leaves, about two inches above the soil. Be sure to clip leaves from the outer portion of the plant first and don’t clip all the plant at one time.

Harvesting Blossoms:

Use clean garden shears or scissors to clip the flower at the base of the stem. Chives will blossom between May and June.

Benefits Of Growing Chives

1. Chives are perennials

As mentioned, chives will pop up year after year. Perennial plants are a wonderful addition to any garden and no work after the first year.

2. Chives Make A Great Companion Plant

Growing chives close to other plants can help keep pests at bay, assist with pollination, improve soil and increase yields. Here are some plants that benefit from having chives planted close by.

Carrots
Tomatoes
Apples
Roses
Parsley
Strawberries

3. Chives Draw Beneficial Insects

Chive blossoms attract beneficial insects to your garden. Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and wasps are attracted to the vibrant purple blossoms.

4. Chives Keep Bad Bugs Away

Chives also keep unwanted insects like aphids, Japanese beetles and carrot flies out of your garden. This is mostly due to their heavy onion scent. Plant chives with other super insect deterrent herbs such as lavender, dill, mint, borage, lemon balm, rosemary, thyme, oregano and basil for a real knockout pest defense for your garden

5. Deer Don’t Like Chives

Depending on where you live, finding deer resistant plants might be difficult. Chives are one of those good old favorite plants that will bring much value to your garden without drawing deer.

6. Chives Help With Digestive Conditions

Chives contain compounds that provide health benefits similar to garlic. As such, they can help relieve digestive problems. They contain a natural antibacterial quality that eliminates a number of dangerous bacteria such as those in the salmonella family. Chives can also increase how efficiently your gut uptakes nutrients.

7. Chives Can Boost Immunity

The high levels of vitamin C in chives encourage white blood cell production, the powerhouse of your immune system. Be sure to enjoy plenty of chives during cold and flu season.

8. Chives Can Improve Heart Health

Allicin is an important organic compound in chives which has been shown to reduce levels of LDL and lead to a healthier heart. Allicin has also been found to lower blood pressure. Chives also contain quercetin, a powerful plaque buster that also reduces cholesterol. This helps prevent atherosclerosis and lower the risk of heart attacks and stroke.

9. Chives Can Improve Bone Health

Chives contain vitamin K which is necessary for bone density and bone integrity. Vitamin K is not found in many common foods and is very important to consume as we lose bone mineral density with age. Loss of bone density is the leading cause of conditions like osteoporosis and the exacerbation of inflammatory conditions including arthritis.

10. Chives May Prevent Cancer

Research has demonstrated that quercetin, contained in chives, may prevent certain types of cancer including prostate, colon, breast, lungs, and ovaries. Vitamin C and vitamin K – also in chives, can help battle the free radicals that can encourage the spread of cancerous cells. In addition, chives also contain Zeaxanthin and lutein, two more antioxidants that are connected to lower likelihood of getting oral cancers.

11. Chives Are A Powerful Cleanser

Chives can help detoxify the body mainly because they have slightly diuretic properties. This, combined with their free-radical fighting and antibacterial properties, helps boost the detox ability of chives. They stimulate urination which helps the body get rid of toxins, water, salt and even fat.

12. Chives Help Eye Health

With age there is an increased risk of macular degeneration and cataracts. Chives reduce oxidative stress and promote eye health.

Great Ways To Use Chives

Here are some fun and delicious ways to benefit from chives.

Add Chives To Salad Dressings

I love to make my own homemade salad dressing and one of my favorite ingredients are chives. Here is my favorite chive oil dressing.

Ingredients:

¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup chopped chives
1 tablespoon raw honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

How to make:

Puree the oil and the chives in a blender until smooth
Strain through a mesh sieve into a medium bowl
Whisk the honey and mustard into the oil.
Whisk in the vinegar, salt, and pepper
Store in a jar for up to one week

Partner Chives & Fish

Season cooked fish with chives or marinate fish in a mixture of olive oil and chives. Either way is delicious.

Add Chives To Ice Cubes

If I’m entertaining, I love to serve mixed drinks with chive ice cubes. Simply cut up some chives and them to your ice cube tray -top with water. If you are serving punch – fill your punch bowl with chive ice cubes before adding the punch. They are pretty and make a great conversation piece.

Chives & Eggs

Chives pair particularly well with eggs and egg dishes. I like to sprinkle chives on scrambled eggs and add them to omelets. Chives also look really pretty in deviled eggs – if you are looking to impress company – try that one.

Flavored Butter

Another popular use for chives is to use them in flavored butter. Here is my favorite flavored butter recipe:

Ingredients:

4 ounces goat cheese
2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
? teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
3 roasted garlic cloves
½ cup stick of softened unsalted butter

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients in a medium-size bowl. Form the mixture into a log and refrigerate until firm.