Harvesting chives correctly – here's how!
One of the most popular herb varieties is chives. One reason why this herb is so popular is its taste. But in addition to taste, chives offer a lot of benefits. In the following, we answer the most important questions about chive care and explain how to harvest chives correctly.
Contents:
- What are chives?
- Interesting & exciting facts about chives
- What do chives taste like?
- Sowing chives
- Watering chives
- Harvesting & cutting chives correctly
- Can chive flowers also be harvested?
- Freezing or drying chives? How to store chives!
- Using chives in the kitchen
- Which vitamins and minerals do chives contain?
- What to do about chive pests?
- Grow chives with the urbanhive homefarm!
What are chives?
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are a popular and easy-to-care-for plant that should be in every kitchen. The perennial herb, belonging to the amaryllis family, is native to Europe, Asia, and North America and is valued for its hollow, tubular leaves that have a mild, onion-like flavor.
By the way: Perennial plants sprout again and again for several years.
Interesting & exciting facts about chives
Chives are closely related to onions, garlic, and leeks and were already used as a medicinal plant in the Middle Ages. At that time, they were used to alleviate stomach complaints and ward off evil spirits. In addition, chive blossoms are edible and provide a decorative addition to salads and other dishes.
What do chives taste like?
As the name suggests, chives have a close connection to leeks. Hence the taste described as leek- to onion-like, but the taste of chives is milder than that of an onion. This is because chives have a lower sulfur content compared to onions.
Furthermore, the taste is described as spicy fresh and slightly sharp. The taste depends on the thickness of the stalks and on the processing. If the chives are finely chopped,
How do I sow chives?
Chives can be grown in spring as well as in late summer. They grow best in a sunny to semi-shady spot in the garden, on the balcony, or directly in the kitchen in your own smart indoor garden.
The soil should be moist and loose. The seeds should be sown about 0.5 to 1 centimeter deep into the soil. After about 2 weeks, the first green tips of the relatively slow-germinating chives should appear.
How do I water chives?
Proper watering is, of course, essential when caring for chives. Immediately after sowing and on hot days, you can be a little more generous when watering chives.
Otherwise, the principle for watering chives is: moist, but not wet. The soil should therefore be kept consistently moist without waterlogging. This can lead to root rot and attract pests like fungus gnats.
How are chives harvested & cut correctly?
The good thing about chives is that harvesting chives is uncomplicated. To harvest chives correctly, the stalks should be at least 15 cm tall. The time before flowering is the best, as the leaves usually have the most aroma then.
To cut chives correctly, they should be cut about 2-3 centimeters above the ground with sharp scissors or a sharp knife. Make sure not to crush the leaves. Cutting them deeply is important because it promotes the natural regrowth of the chives.
When do chives flower?
Chives usually flower in late spring or early summer. Because the stalks become tough and bitter after flowering, chives should be harvested correctly before this time.
Can chive flowers also be harvested?
Yes, because not only the leaves, but also the flowers are edible. The chive flowers are small purple blossoms that usually appear in late spring or early summer. They have a milder, onion-like taste and are excellent for decorating salads or as an aromatic ingredient in herb butter or in our chive quark recipe.
The disadvantage of chives flowering is that the stalks often become tougher and less palatable afterwards. To preserve the taste of the chives, it is therefore advisable to remove the flowers in time and to cut the chives regularly.
Freezing or drying chives? How to store chives!
Chives are usually only cut when they are used in the kitchen. But if more chives accumulate before flowering than can be consumed, the question remains: How are chives stored? We'll explain how to store chives correctly:
- Freezing chives
Freezing is definitely the better choice: because when freezing chives, the aroma is almost completely preserved. If you want to harvest and freeze chives, proceed as follows: First, the chives should be harvested correctly. Then wash, dry, and cut them into small rolls. Afterwards, they can be easily frozen in a freezer bag or container. This way, you will also have chives in winter, for example.
By the way: Since chives are winter-hardy, they can survive the cold season outdoors with a little help. Alternatively, they can be brought indoors.
- Drying chives
Theoretically, chives can also be dried, but they lose a lot of their aroma and change their taste. It is different with chive blossoms: these can be dried well so that they last longer.
Tip: You can find out more about this topic in our blog post: Drying herbs.
- Storing chives in the refrigerator
As a third option, the refrigerator also works. Fresh, correctly harvested chives can also be wrapped in a damp cloth and stored in the refrigerator, where they will stay fresh for about a week.
Chives in the kitchen: Recipes & dishes
Chives can be used raw or lightly cooked in a variety of dishes. They are excellent as a topping for soups, salads, egg dishes, as well as potato and fish dishes. In addition, chives can also be used in smoothies, dips, or.
Chives: Vitamins & Minerals
Chives are rich in vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. As a result, there are some interesting benefits that can improve your health:
Chives contain a lot of vitamin K, which helps strengthen bones in the body. This can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Additionally, vitamin K protects against bleeding. Just 15g of chives are enough for the daily dose of vitamin K.
Vitamin C helps strengthen the immune system. This is especially important in winter. Chives contain about 50 mg of vitamin C per 100 g. Thus, chives help strengthen your immune system.
Chives are rich in antioxidants and can help limit free radicals. Antioxidants are important for the body and protect us from free radicals, which contribute to diseases such as arteriosclerosis, rheumatism, and cardiovascular diseases.
Furthermore, chives can help lower cholesterol levels because chives contain important sulfur compounds. High cholesterol levels can damage blood vessels and the cardiovascular system, leading to secondary diseases.
What pests can infest chives?
Despite the relatively simple care, pests can become a problem for chives. Typical pests that infest chives include:
- Aphids
- Wireworms
- Leek moth
- Leek miner fly
- Onion fly
To prevent pests and diseases in chives, they should have sufficient space to ensure good air circulation. In addition, regular soil changes can help minimize pest infestation.
Grow chives with the urbanhive homefarm
If you don't want to deal with problems like chive pests, you've come to the right place. Because with our urbanhive homefarm and minifarm , pest infestation is significantly lower than in the garden or on the balcony. In addition, gardening with our smart indoor gardens is much easier, as watering, for example, can be conveniently controlled and monitored via app. Try it out!
With the urbanhive homefarm you can easily grow chives at home and enjoy them all year round.
Tip: If you're still looking for chives for your indoor garden, you should try our chive capsules.