When and how to plant chives in pots?

Chive Information

Chives, or by its scientific name "allium schoenoprasum", is an aromatic herb of the perennial type , that is to say that you can cultivate it for more than one year. This plant has a height of 20 to 40cm and its planting is easy. You will easily recognize it by its light green foliage which takes the form of clumps. You can also appreciate its colorful flowers, which range from purple to pink depending on the type of variety.

When to plant chives?

Season

Chives are grown all year round. However, sowing is done during the spring, from March to April . Indoors, you can keep your young plants warm, under a bell jar or in a mini-greenhouse . Your chives will thus have time to grow before being placed in direct sunlight in May.
The leaves will grow throughout the year and the flowers will appear in June and July , the flowering period.

Why plant chives in pots?

When you don't have a garden, planting chives indoors is a great way to enjoy a year-round planting. For this, you can grow it in a house or an apartment, on your balcony in a planter, or in your living room and kitchen in a pot or in a vegetable patch.
If you want to grow several plants at the same time, then it will be better to plant chives in the vegetable garden with other plants that require the same growing conditions.
If you want to grow chives only, then the pot is an excellent option that takes up little space and offers a wide choice of possibilities. Indeed, there is more than one type of pot, each with respective advantages. If you're short on space, you can even opt for a hanging pot or planter.

Advantages and disadvantages

Your indoor plants will require less maintenance because weeding the soil will be easier compared to garden soil. However, it will need to be watered more frequently.
On the other hand, planting indoors will allow you to place your pot or your planter directly in the kitchen to be able to harvest according to your needs. Your plants will also be more protected from bad weather and cold.

How to plant chives in a pot?

Preparing for sowing

Choice of seeds

The choice of seeds is important because it determines the growth capacities of your plant as well as the quality of your fruits, vegetables and aromatic herbs. URBAN CUISINE recommends seeds with the "Organic Farming" label . This type of seed is certified organic, is more resistant, and allows for long-term cultivation.

Choice of land

Chives need a light, well-drained soil using clay pebbles . Indeed, an excess of water at the level of the tray could cause the bulbs to rot.

Choice of location

you should not expose your chive plantation directly to the sun after sowing. Young plants will therefore need good light but also a little shade.

With which varieties of plants to grow chives?
Plant it with aromatic herbs that require the same growing conditions: sun and soil that stays cool . This is the case withcoriander , parsley , and tarragon.
You can also sow your chives near certain vegetables such as carrots because chives have the effect of repelling pests.

Sowing stages

1- Pour a mixture of potting soil and clay ball into your pot
2- Sow the chive seeds by spacing them out
3- Cover with a thin layer of potting soil
4- Water

URBAN CUISINE has developed 3-in-1 Cultivation Clods comprising excellent quality soil, nutrients dosed according to the needs of the variety and seeds of French origin and labeled "Organic Agriculture" in order to simplify your sowing and cultivation. maintenance of your plant. You can enjoy it in our Pot en Liège, made in France, from cork oak harvested in France.

Chive Care

watering

At the start of your planting, water the chive plants frequently. Once the foot has reached maturity, you will then have to water only when the soil is dry.

Note : planting chives in pots will need watering more often than planting in the garden

Size

It is recommended to mow the clumps between June and September so that the chives can regenerate their foliage.
Trimming the chives by cutting the stems where the flower buds appear will also delay the bolting so you can harvest the leaves longer.

Harvest potted chives

4 steps from harvest to conservation

1- Wait until the chives have reached a height of 15cm
2- With scissors, cut the sprigs of chives at the base
3- To harvest the flowers, cut the stems that have flower buds
3- Store the chive leaves in the refrigerator, in the freezer, or dried with the help of storage tips
4- Dry the flowers

Grow chives with URBAN CUISINE products

We offer you to maintain your indoor garden with ease with our Common Chive Cork Pots and our Cultivation Clods. All our clods are composed of a compact soil made of plant fibers that contain all the nutrients necessary for the growth of your plant . You can also diversify your harvest thanks to the Balconnière and the Connected Indoor Vegetable Garden to simultaneously plant several varieties of fruits, vegetables and aromatic herbs.
With the Connected Vegetable Garden, you will no longer need to worry about the water and light needs of your plants since watering, humidity, ventilation, and light are automated.

Discover all our advice on caring for your aromatic plants on the blog: " Herb garden kit: tips and tricks ", " How to create your aromatic vegetable garden? ", " Care for chives " and many more.