Description

CHIVES (allium schoenoprasum) are a wonderful ornamental in the garden and also for fresh eating or cooking. Just snip off the long tubular green leaves, or add the pretty purple blossoms to your salads (which will also help the plant remain viable longer). One of my all-time favorite omelets is a simple chive omelet with sour cream topping. Plants will self-seed in the second and subsequent years. 50 seeds. Perennial in zones 3-9.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES: Chives are alliums - members of the onion family - and so they share the same medicinal qualities based on their sulphur compounds and can be used safely and liberally to that effect. Chives may help lower blood pressure and definitely aid digestion. They have Vitamins A and C.

GROWING TIPS: Start indoors by sowing 1/4" deep and misting daily to keep soil moist until germination. Use bottom heat. It will take a season to get large enough to transplant. You can sow directly, but it is dicey as in its early stages a clump is prone to fail in the elements. Once established, it is hardier.