Chives, Common Herb Plant
Allium schoenoprasum
Common Name: Chives
Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Family: Amaryllidaceae
USDA Zones: 3–9
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Early Summer
Flowers: Purple
Fertilizer: Give a single top-dressing with a nitrogen heavy fertilizer in late spring or early summer.
Mature size: 10-15" tall with similar spread
Resists: Deer
Warning: Toxic to dogs, cats
Cannot ship to: AA,AE,AP,AS,CN,FM,GU,HI,MH,MP,PR,PW,VI
Planting: Plant after danger of frost has passed. You can plant this in spring or fall. Select an area with sandy loam, which has good drainage where it will get at least 6 hours of direct sun. Space approx. 12” apart. This plant should be planted at the same depth it was growing in the container. Add a couple of handfuls of well-decomposed compost to the soil before planting.
Watering: Give about an inch of water per week. Allow the soil to dry out between watering's. Over watering can cause root rot and other problems.
To harvest and store: Harvest before the flowers appear for optimal flavor. Collect on a dry day, in the morning after the dew has dried, and hang in small bunches (to ensure proper drying) in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight for a week until thoroughly dry. Then remove the dried herbs from the stems, and store in an air tight container such as a glass jar, out of direct sunlight. Properly dried herbs should last between 1-3 years.