a jewel among vegetables...

In the Garden | Culinary | Medicinal use

Popular garden varieties

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In the Garden

Growth Characteristics:

• Perennial, Frost hardy,
• Height: ± 25cm; Spread: ±20 cm,
• Makes an attractive edging in the garden,

• Chives ( Allium schoenoprasum ):
  • Produce a dense, globular head of pinkish to purple blossoms; with a delicate, mild onion flavour. The leaves are grass-like, hollow, tubular, green, tapering to a point at the top,

• Garlic Chives / Chinese Chives( A. tuberosum ):
  • Forms a flower head composed of star-like, white flowers and flat, narrow, light to dark green leaves. Use the dried seed heads in bouquets,

Cultivation:

• Full sun; Well drained, composted soil,

   

Harvesting:

• Pick fresh leaves and flowers throughout the year,

   

Companion Planting:

• Vegetables: Plant with Carrots, Tomatoes,
• Herbs: Plant with Parsley,
• Fruit: Plant with Apple trees, Grapes, Strawberries (allow chives to flower then cut and lay them on the ground between strawberry plants to deter fungi), Fruit trees in general,
• Ornamentals: Roses,
• Do not plant with: Beans, Peas,
• Attracting Beneficial insects:

   

Repellant for:

• Aphids, Mites,
• Use against Apple scab, Blackspot and Mildew,

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Culinary use

Use Fresh Chives and Garlic Chives leaves and flowers with:

• Potatoes, Salads, Tomatoes,
• Chop it fine and add to cottage cheese or cream cheese,
• Chicken, Fish, Shellfish,
• Cheese, Eggs, Salad dressings, Sauces, Vinegars, Butters, Omelettes,
• Use the leaves of Garlic chives to make garlic-flavored salad vinegar with dill and mint ,
• Asian dishes, French dishes,
• Lengthy cooking destroys the flavour. Add leaves towards the end of cooking.

   

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Medicinal use

Chives and Garlic Chives may be beneficial in the following cases:

Preparation and dosage:

• Use fresh leaves and flowers with food.

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