Wednesday 30 May 2012

Chive Talkin'

I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago that I don't grow many herbs, but chives are one of the few herbs that I do grow. I enjoy chives snipped on to scrambled eggs and also in cheese sandwiches and baked potatoes, they add a light onion taste. I also grow chives for the bees which love their flowers. When I planted up my small border three years ago, I chose plants with wildlife in mind. Chives were one of the plants which made it in there, knowing how well the bees would enjoy it. Many of the plants in this border have now outgrown their space, so I'm hoping to move them in to the front garden at some point, and though the chives have put on lots of growth, it's one plant which will be staying.

In my last but one post, I told my tale of woe at the Uchiki Kuri squash seeds not germinating. When I looked at the plant label again, I realised that I'd made a mistake. It isn't the Uchiki Kuri which haven't germinated, but the Blue Kuri. I had one seed of each variety left so I sowed those and have just noticed today that the Uchiki Kuri has germinated again, but still no sign of the Blue Kuri. There's still time though so my fingers are still firmly crossed.

We've managed to get the bean wigwams up at the allotment and the Blue Lake French beans have been planted out. The Purple Teepee, which are a dwarf variety, are still waiting to go out, but I've only had a few of the Safari dwarf variety germinate, even though they were sown at the same time. I shall be sowing more French beans soon to give a staggered harvest. My sweetcorn is now ready to be planted out too, but it's bed isn't yet ready for it so that's next on the to do list.

14 comments:

  1. Good morning JO, I am going to plant up my herb garden today. I have not got chives but will get some! I'm still waiting for lots to still germinate but nothing happening so far!

    I have sown three lots of sweetcorn, the snail ate the first lot as soon as the shoots appeared and the other two lots did not even germinate. We will not be having any this year now. Have a great day x

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  2. I'm a big chive fan. Great post title by the way. Have you tried eating the flowers torn up and scattered in salads. I know the bees love the flowers so I'm a bit reluctant to pick them but they are so tasty, a bit stronger than the leaves and look so pretty.

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  3. I've had pumpkins taken over a fmonth to germinate in the past. Invariably just as I'm about to give up completely they suddenly appear. Hope yours do the same (albeit more quickly). Love the idea of a chives border.

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  4. It's a herb that I don't grow yet! Fingers crossed for the squash. Flighty xx

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  5. Your post title made me smile Jo. Chives are a great herb and so unfusssy too. Wellywoman has taken the words out of my mouth - do try nibbling the flowers too - most delicious. Still keeping my fingers crossed for you in the squash germination department.

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  6. I love chives too and keep splitting them and have now edged two of my raised beds with them - they look lovely at this time of year don't they. Look good, taste good and useful too. What more could you ask for.

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  7. Have you lots of baby chives - ours seed prolifically! The bees certainly love the flowers!

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  8. I love chives too, I love that the bees love them and they are very tasty. I find most herbs to be too much of a bother but love chives :D

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  9. I like the heading of your post - Chive Talkin' (very good!). My chives started to flower this week. I really think they're a great plant.

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  10. I love chives, Wigglywoo, a great addition to any herb garden. I'd still have a go at sweetcorn, it isn't too late for it yet, providing you get it sown soon.

    I've never tried chive flowers, Wellywoman. To be honest, I'm a little put off by flowers, I don't know why. I'll have to give them a go.

    There's still no sign of the Blue Kuri, Liz. I'm still giving it a bit longer though.

    You must get some chives on your plot, Flighty. You'll marvel at how many bees they attract.

    I love that chives are so easy to grow, Anna. I'm hoping to get a few more herbs soon to join the others I bought recently, I think I've been bitten by the bug.

    Chives are a good all rounder, Elaine. I think mine need splitting now, they do fill out quite a bit.

    I haven't noticed them seeding, Sue, but the clump has got bigger so perhaps they're seeding very close to the parent.

    Chives are a real easy plant to grow, Emma, I agree. They're one of the few herbs that I actually use so I'm pleased they grow so well.

    Chives are lovely when in flower, Kelli. I think the flower buds are really pretty too.

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  11. Forgive this very late comment, Jo - I'm just trying to catch up with other blogs as I have a few spare moments during the bank hol weekend. I hope that you'll see your Blue Kuri squash; I had to wait ages for a spaghetti squash to germinate, in fact I emailed the seed company to ask how long it usually took! I was told wait one more week and amazingly, the seeds suddently poked through!

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  12. I'm still waiting for the Blue Kuri, Caro, but I'm not giving up hope yet, stranger things have happened. All the rest of the squash germinated ages ago though, it does look as though it's a none starter.

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  13. I had a question...my chives were floppy this year.....do you need to trip them back each year to prevent that from happening? Thanks..

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  14. Thank you for visiting, motormouth. I can't say I've noticed my chives flopping. I do harvest some for culinary use so perhaps cutting them back does help.

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