The vitamin-rich chives are known by many names: botanists refer to them as Allium schoenoprasum, popular names such as scallops, Grusenich or rush leek are common. The plant is one of the most popular kitchen herbs and even one of the so-called "fines herbes" in France. Chives are usually propagated by division, but you can also grow your own plants from the seeds.

Cultivation by seed not with every variety

However, this type of cultivation is quite tricky. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that not every type of chive can be grown from seed - some chives can only be propagated by division - and on the other hand that propagation by seed is generally not that easy due to possible mutations. In addition, chives are cold germs, i. H. it needs temperatures below 18 °C to even be stimulated to germinate. For this reason, you can sow the chive seeds directly outdoors from around mid-March to mid-April, it is not necessary to prefer them on the windowsill.

  • Prepare the selected planting site well.
  • The location should be as half-shady as possible; the soil is loose but rich in humus.
  • Dig up the planting site thoroughly and remove all weeds.
  • Also in the future, make sure to keep the planting site free of any weeds.
  • Break up any clods of earth and rake the surface nice and smooth.
  • Now you can make indentations in the ground, about two centimeters deep.
  • Distribute the seeds in the wells, about 300 per meter.
  • Chives are dark germs, i. H. You need to cover the seeds with soil.
  • Keep the soil nice and moist, but protect it from heavy rain.

The seeds usually germinate within about 14 days. If, on the other hand, you want to grow chives in a pot, sow a few seeds in a suitable planter and place it on the balcony. In the room, on the other hand, it is often too warm for the chives. Use potting soil or herb soil for the seedlings.

care for seedlings

The young seedlings should be front

  • heavy rain
  • frost
  • strong sunlight
  • as well as weeds

to be protected. Make sure that the young plants are not too close together, as this hinders growth and promotes the dreaded "damping-off". This is a disease caused by fungi that is favored by a lack of light and air.

tips and tricks

You can also make it easier for yourself - if you already have a chive plant and want to propagate it - and let the chives sow themselves. It is enough to let a few flowers ripen - the seeds that ripened later fall to the ground and overwinter there. The young plants appear in the spring.

IJA

Category:

Vegetable garden