How to grow chives in pots: sowing, cutting and care

Pot and soil

A pot 15-20 cm (6-8 in) deep and as wide. Fresh, free-draining all-purpose mix.

Sun or part shade. A bright windowsill works too.

Keep the soil cool and moist: about every 3 days in summer. It dislikes both long droughts and soggy soil.

A leafy-plant feed every 2 weeks in spring and summer, especially after cutting.

When it's ready

Leaves 15-20 cm tall.

How to harvest

Cut 3-4 cm above the soil; it regrows several times a season. The flowers are edible too.

Yellow tips

Thirst or exhausted soil. Water more regularly and feed after cutting.

Thin, sparse stems

The clump is overcrowded: divide it into 2-3 pieces in spring and repot them.

Purple flowers

Edible and pretty, but the plant makes fewer stems: snip them for a bigger harvest.

How do I cut chives?

Snip stems 2-3 cm (1 in) above the soil: they regrow in about 3 weeks.

Do chives die in winter?

The tops die back, but the roots survive and regrow in spring.

Can you eat chive flowers?

Yes, they have a mild onion taste: great in salads.