Onion Chives Seeds – Herbs & Microgreens
Common Names: Onion chives, chives, Oriental garlic, Asian chives, Chinese chives, Chinese leek
Botanical Name: Allium schoenoprasum
Family: Alliaceae, the onion family
What are Onion Chives?
Onion chives, scientifically known as Allium schoenoprasum, are perennial herbs native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Chives are the smallest plant in the onion family. They form dense clumps of grass-like leaves with hollow tubes reaching 20 – 30 cm in height and 20 cm wide. These herbs produce edible lavender pom-pom flowers with a subtle, sweet scent.
Chives are easy to find in most supermarkets and green grocers and are commonly grown in home gardens.
Culinary Uses
Chive leaves have an onion flavor which enhances egg, potato, and cheese dishes. Use the edible flowers as a garnish or add to Asian cuisine. Chop the leaves finely for sauces, soups, salads, and stews.
Chives are also among the “fines herbes” of French cuisine, a category that includes tarragon, chervil, and parsley.
Ornamental Uses
Beyond their culinary uses, chives are a delicate, decorative edging plant for herb and vegetable gardens. The purple flowers suit cottage or traditional gardens. Grow in containers or create a mini herb garden in pots on your kitchen bench.
Beneficial Plants
Chives have natural pest-repelling qualities and are a good companion plant with roses. The purple flowers attract bees and beneficial pollinators to your garden.
Growing Information
These hardy, perennial herbs thrive in various climates and are fairly cold-resistant. While they flourish in full sunlight, they also tolerate light shade. Onion chives prefer well-drained, rich, and moist soil with a pH level between 5.5 and 7, making them adaptable to container gardening in space-limited environments.
Recommended Planting Time
Sow chive seeds in mid-spring or divide existing clumps during spring or autumn.
Planting Depth
When planting, cover the roots with approximately 2 cm of soil.
Growing Tips
To boost the vigor of your plants, divide them every three years. To divide clumps, trim the tops of the chives, gently lift the clumps, trim the roots, and separate them into small groups for replanting. In cool temperate regions, chives experience winter dormancy, while in subtropical areas, cutting them back significantly during winter can enhance their vigor. After the summer flowering period, gently prune them. It is best not to allow chives to set seeds as this will promote long-term, healthy plant growth.
Harvesting
Cut chives early in the morning after the dew has evaporated.
Growing Information for Australia
- Temperate: Sow seeds from September to November for spring growth.
- Cool: Plant seeds in late spring to early summer for summer harvests.
- Arid: Sow in early spring and autumn to avoid extreme heat.
- Subtropical: Year-round planting is possible, but best results are from spring to autumn.
- Tropical: Sow seeds in the cooler months to avoid heat stress; suitable for growing in partial shade.
Additional Growing Information
- Row Spacing: 30 cm apart.
- Plant Spacing: 20 – 25 cm between plants.
- Days to Harvest: 60 – 90 days after sowing.
- Soil Temperature for Germination: 18 – 20°C.
- Germination Temperature: 18 – 20°C.
- Days until Germination: 14 – 21 days.