did you know?

Native to Asia, chives were first used in China and spread westward to Greece. By the sixteenth century, they had earned a place in European herb gardens. In addition to their widespread culinary use, dried chives were hung in the home, like garlic, to protect against evil.

general maintenance:

To encourage the plants to store nutrients for next year's bloom rather than produce seeds, deadhead spent flower heads.

how to sow/plant:

Sow indoors in pots or flats, 1/4 inch deep 3 to 4 weeks before last frost. 4 weeks after seedlings emerge, transplant outdoors and set plants at the same depth they were in their pots, spacing at a distance equal to plants' mature spread. Water upon planting, and mulch to conserve moisture.

water and fertilize:

Monitor soil moisture all season. If desired, feed with an all-purpose fertilizer as shoots emerge in spring and again after bloom.

garden hint:

Ornamental onions are good news for gardeners who have lost other plants to animals; because of their taste, they are usually left alone by rabbits and deer.

features:

• Attractive Flowers
• Attractive Foliage
• Deer Resistant
• Disease Resistant
• Fragrant
• Native

garden uses:

• Containers

other uses:

• Culinary/Edible (use leaves in salads and soups; flowers in vinegar)
• Dye (leaves produce a yellow green dye)
• Everlasting (>flowers dry well)

combine with:

other culinary herbs, such as anise, basil, chives, dill, nasturtium, and parsley, in the kitchen garden or in containers.