Chives, An Ornamental Plant Food
Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008
by Kathy Case
Case Exchange Co., Inc.
Chives are in the genus allium and the family alliaceae. They were originally from Asia, and Europe, dating back 5000 years. Chives are the smallest onions in the species. They are beneficial perennial herbs that contain a sulfur compound giving them their onion flavor. In fact, many gardeners plant them in their flower gardens to help control pests such as the Japanese beetle.
Allium schoenoprasum is a common chive. They are often started from seeds that will form into bulbs. Most often the small bulbs are an oval shape, being taller than they are wide. Tufts grow from the roots to form clumps that can be divided in the spring or the fall. Chives can be grown in a sunny windowsill indoors, or they can be grown outdoors. The leaves can be harvested as needed any time of the year. They can be kept by dry freezing them.
The onion flavor is held in the leaves, not in the bulbs. The leaves of chives look grass like. They are slender and hollow. Used for flavoring, they are usually chopped and used as a spice, or as a garnish for fish, potatoes, soups, omelets, salads, and many other dishes.
Chives contain vitamins A and C, and they have very small amounts of sulfur and iron. They are beneficial for the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems. They also help to lower blood pressure. Caution, eating to many of them may cause digestive problems. The juices within the leaves have uses as well. Some of its uses are fighting fungal infections, mildew, and scab. The juice is also an effective insect repellent.
Most species of chives have lavender star shaped flowers. The ornamental blooms will appear sometime in April, May, or June depending on the climate. The flowers, also eatable, grow in clusters at the top of flower stems. The stems will be stiffer than the leaves. The flowers have six tepals, and there are usually ten to thirty in each cluster per stem. Both the flowers and leaves usually grow from twelve to twenty inches tall. After the chives bloom cut the leaves back so they are about three inches tall. The flowers of chives are often used in dry bouquets and potpourri.
The onion flavor is held in the leaves, not in the bulbs. The leaves of chives look grass like. They are slender and hollow. Used for flavoring, they are usually chopped and used as a spice, or as a garnish for fish, potatoes, soups, omelets, salads, and many other dishes.
Chives contain vitamins A and C, and they have very small amounts of sulfur and iron. They are beneficial for the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems. They also help to lower blood pressure. Caution, eating to many of them may cause digestive problems. The juices within the leaves have uses as well. Some of its uses are fighting fungal infections, mildew, and scab. The juice is also an effective insect repellent.
Most species of chives have lavender star shaped flowers. The ornamental blooms will appear sometime in April, May, or June depending on the climate. The flowers, also eatable, grow in clusters at the top of flower stems. The stems will be stiffer than the leaves. The flowers have six tepals, and there are usually ten to thirty in each cluster per stem. Both the flowers and leaves usually grow from twelve to twenty inches tall. After the chives bloom cut the leaves back so they are about three inches tall. The flowers of chives are often used in dry bouquets and potpourri.
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More commentsHi Kathy;It's always good to learn more about the natural elements God has provided for us as ways of helping to cure different types of illnesses in our bodies; such as, high blood pressure. A friend of mine not only suffers with that but also acid reflux. I'll pass this information on to her. Perhapds she'll be interested. Thanks.DeborahHi Deborah,Thanks for reading, commenting, and taking the time to help. You're a good friend.my best,Kathy
Kathy, Reading all about chives reminded me that I didn't plant them this year! I used to always have them in my garden when I lived in Iowa and miss cooking with them now that I'm in New York. Very informative article about a plant I love. (I am going to have to remember that and plant them next year.) Warmly, BarbaraHello Barbara,Thanks for commenting. Maybe next year you'll be able to have fresh ones when you want them.alwaysKathy
Thanks, Kathy, for the information. We have "weeds" that grow randomly throughout the yard that grow quickly and much taller than the grass. They look like grass, but when you pull them, they smell like onions. The leaves are not hollow. Have you heard of these plants and do you know if they are a type of onion?Hi Lorrie,When you mow, does the whole area smell like onions? Those "weeds" sound just like the ones that grow wild in our yard. If they are, you should find that they are grown from bulbs. They are in the genus allium, same as onions. I think the species that we have is considered an invasive weed. I never really was interested in researching what kind they are since nobody that I know eats them. Trust me when I say, if they were fit eat, I would know of people eating them. There is a lot of hill folks in this area. I have never put them in my flower beds, but it wouldn't surprise me if they discourage garden pests as well.my best,Kathy
As a gardener and one who loves to cook I really enjoyed Kathy's informative article about chives and I certainly look forward to visiting her website and photo gallery of the things she and her husband grow.Hi Arlene,Thank you for the wonderful comment. Hope you like what I've done to the site so far.Always,Kathy
I can't imagine being able to make an interesting article, as you have so well done, about chives. I started it with some doubt but found that you had indeed made an interesting article of it. Great work.Hi Joel,Thank you for reading the article, and for leaving a very nice comment.alwaysKathy
It's funny, I enjoy chives but never really knew anything about them -- thank you very much for the information, Kathy - very informative!Hello Judi,You are very welcome. Thanks for reading and your comment.Kathy
Good information about chive. But how did you become interested in it? Do you grow it? Why did it capture your attention?Hi Walter,To be truthful after I wrote about alliums in general, Val Silver a fellow reader, asked me to write more about them. Thanks for your interest.Kathy
As a gardener and an herbalist, I enjoyed reading this article. There was good background and some great ideas for the many uses of chives. I'm planting some this weekend!Glad to hear you enjoyed the article. I, too, will be planting chives in some choice spots this weekend. The weather and temperature are perfect for planting in Arkansas.my best,Kathy
I planted some chives this year but didn't know much about them. Now I'll know how best to harvest and store them for next year.Hi Karen,It's nice to hear that the article has information that you can use. Thanks for commenting.Sincerely,Kathy
I was looking for a way to add a little more vitamin C to my diet, this might help. Also didn't know chives keeps certain pests away, I might try it in my garden next summer.Hi Julie,Yesturday I bought some seeds to plant beside my rose bushes. It can't hurt.always,Kathy
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