- When is the best time to plant or sow?
- How do you sow chives?
- What are the site requirements for chives?
- When can the herb be harvested?
Whether in a pot on the balcony or in a bed outdoors - chives are considered easy to care for. But this is only on the condition that nothing goes wrong during cultivation and that the requirements of the location are taken into account…
Early garlic chives can be planted out in mid-May
When is the best time to plant or sow?
If you want to plant early chives, you can tackle this procedure from mid/late May. It is significant that no more night frosts are to be expected outside. The young plants do not tolerate this. If you want to sow the chives with your own hands, you can grow them at home from March or sow them directly outdoors from the end of April to September at the latest.
How do you sow chives?
The seeds of chives are cold and dark germs. After experiencing a cold spell, sow them 1 to 2 cm deep in the ground. For the next few weeks, keep the soil moist with the seeds. The seeds germinate after 14 to 28 days. The ideal germination temperature is 20 °C.
After the seedlings are visible and small plants have developed from them, they can be pricked out. When planting in pots or beds, a distance of 25 cm should be maintained between the individual plants. There should be a distance of 40 cm between rows.
What are the site requirements for chives?
Chives need a sunny to full sun location. The penumbra represents its tolerance limit. If it is cultivated on the balcony or on the window sill, emphasis should be placed on a southern exposure. The plant substrate should ideally have the following properties:
- loose texture
- good permeability
- fresh to moderately humid environment
- high nutrient and humus content
When can the herb be harvested?
Once planted, chives can be harvested for several years. It is hardy and if it was planted last year, the harvest can begin in March. Its edible leaves and flowers can be harvested and used in salads and soups until late summer.
tips
Do not plant chives near cabbage, beans and peas. He cannot make friends with these plant neighbors. On the other hand, he likes to be close to cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes and strawberries and rewards this neighborhood with a lower maintenance requirement.