What do I do With Chives?

  A wonderfully useful perennial plant that comes up first thing in the spring is chives (also known as leek rush).  It is probably the first thing that we are able to harvest and it keeps providing for us all year long. Chives are mild enough that they can be added to many different dishes without upsetting the balance, and imparting a mild onion flavour. 

Chives have been used for over 5000 years. They are part of the allium (onion) family and they are the only known member of this family to be found in both the new and old worlds.  Marco Polo was credited in bringing chives from Asia to Europe.  The gypsies of ancient times used chives in fortune telling.  It was believed that you should hang bunches of dried chives around your house to ward off disease. Chives have been proven to be a nutrient dense food.  They can help reduce salt intake by adding  flavour and nutrition to your recipes.  

How to Plant Chives

Chives can be grown from seed or transplant.  They can spread quickly in a garden so if you want to keep them contained to one area of your yard, consider planting them in the pot in the ground and snip off their flowers before they set seed so they are less likely to spread in your yard that way. 

Cultivation

Chives like full sun, regular moisture and well-drained soil with a pH of 6-7.  They can be grown from seed or vegetatively divided from existing plants.  They germinate best with soil temperatures between 15-20C.

Companion Plants for Chives

Chives are a great herb for helping other plants in the garden.  The early blooms help pollination in the spring garden.  Their scent repels pests and reduce the frequency of fungi and disease. Some plants that they work well with in the garden are
  • Parsley
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Eggplant
  • Kohlrabi
  • Mustard
  • Peppers
  • Potatoes
  • Rhubarb
  • Roses
  • Squash
  • Strawberries
  • Tomatoes
  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Grapes

Harvest

Chives can be continuously harvested throughout the growing season. Hold about a 1 inch diameter bundle in your hand and cut about 1 -2 inches from the base of the plant.  Leaving the vegetation at the bottom helps you avoid getting dirt in your harvest and helps the plant regrow more quickly.  Take out any flower stems and set aside.  

Storage

You can store fresh chives in the fridge for 10-14 days if you wrap them in a paper towel and place them in a plastic bag.  Frozen chives can last indefinitely in the freezer but for best quality try to use them within 4-6 months.  Dried chives are a convenient way to keep chives, however if you have chives in your garden, try to use them before you have access to fresh chives again. 

Pairing

Other herbs that chives are well paired with are garlic, basil, rosemary, parsley, rosemary and dill.  Chives are traditionally paired with eggs, rice, potatoes, and cheeses of all kinds.  They are also known to complement
  • green beans,
  • kohlrabi, 
  •  parsnips,
  • peas,
  • pumpkin,
  • radish,
  • spinach,
  • summer squash
  • jerusalem artichoke

Cooking

Use in soups, stews, dips, rubs, sauces and casseroles where ever you also use onions.  Clip using a pair of kitchen shears into whatever you're preparing.  Often chives are used as a garnish at the end of the preparation as the flavour is mild and delicate.  The flowers are edible and can  be used as a beautiful addition to finish a dish. 

Preserving

Chives are best fresh, but you can keep the flavour in the colder months by freezing or drying your herbs.  Cut bunches of chives in 1/4 inch sections.  

To dry your chives you can place them on a plate, tray or a cardboard flat.  You can sun dry them on a warm day or if it's a rainy day you can place the chives on top of your fridge.  The heat from the running fridge will be gentle enough to dry your chives. Once they are fully dried (it is really important that there isn't any moisture left) you can place in a container and keep on your shelf.  

To freeze your chives you can place them on a parchment or wax paper lined tray in the freezer and once frozen place in a bag or freezer safe container.  This will allow them to be frozen individually so it will be easier to measure and access them.  Alternatively you can freeze them in with a little bit of water in ice cube trays. 

Nutrition

Chives are  a good source of Thiamin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus and Zinc, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.  You can find more health benefits to chives 
Picture










Get recipes from our Pinterest page.