Growing chives with kids

Chives grow like tall grass, and produce flowers which you can eat too! The flowers also attract bees and butterflies. Chives are a member of the onion family, but taste milder. They're easy to grow and don't take up much room. You can grow them in the ground, containers, or a pot on your kitchen windowsill.

What you'll need:

• Chive seeds
• Container and compost
• A watering can
• Scissors for harvesting

Step 1: Sow your seeds

Chives grow well in pots or in the ground
Image: Glimpse of Sweden

• Chives aren't fussy - they grow in sun or shade in any soil.
• Sow your seeds from April, directly onto the compost.
• Cover them with a layer of compost, and gently water.
• Seedlings will appear within two weeks.

Step 2: Look after your chives

Bees love chive flowers!
Image: CTatiana

• Thin your plants to 10cm apart when they're big enough to handle.
• Chives don't need much, except for a little water when it's dry.
• They die back in autumn but they'll return next spring.

Step 3: Harvest your chives

Cut fresh chives as and when you need them.
Image: Kay Fochtman

• Your chives will be ready about three months after sowing the seeds.
• Snip some off with scissors when you need them.
• Always leave 5cm of leaves to continue growing.
• When they grow back you can cut more.

Types of chive:

• Lots of purple flowers, mild onion flavour: Common chives
• Slower growing, white flowers & subtle garlic flavour: Chinese (garlic) chives

There's plenty more information in the downloadable guide. Print it out for more detailed instructions and even more chive facts!

	Click the image to download the full pdf guide

Growing chives with kids

What you'll need:

Step 1: Sow your seeds

Step 2: Look after your chives

Step 3: Harvest your chives

Types of chive:

See all the Kids Grow guides

Individual guides

Fruit, veg and salad

Flowers

Growing chives with kids

What you'll need:

Step 1: Sow your seeds

Step 2: Look after your chives

Step 3: Harvest your chives

Types of chive:

See all the Kids Grow guides

Individual guides

Fruit, veg and salad

Flowers

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