Type Perennial (herbaceous)
Hardiness Zones 3 - 9
Bloom Spring, Summer
Height 1 ft (31 cm)
Cultivation
Very easy, and rewarding. Average soil, and water needs. Sun, and semi-shaded locations, best. Once settled, they will pretty much take good care of themselves.
Propagation
Also very easy; either by seed (Spring, or as soon as the seeds are produced), or by division (do it in early Fall before the foliage disappears).
See May's Propagating ABC - Onion & Garlic Chives section, for more details.
Other
Onion Chives are great for garnishing eggs, soups, sauces, salads, and cheeses.
They are also useful to grow in the garden, since they repel bad bugs, and diseases, that attack garden plants.
Plant them particularly around Roses to keep predators, such as Japanese Beetles, away.
Just as Garlic Chives, Onion ones make great floral borders. All parts of Onion Chives are edible, and they save well. Just chop fresh foliage, put it in a microwavable bowl, cover with paper towel and microwave for about 30 seconds , remove from the oven, take the towel off and stir it a bit to let the moisture out, for a few seconds. If wet, repeat the process, till your chives are crispy. Save in a jar or a Ziploc bag.
Chives are a good source of vitamins A, and C. Romans believed Onion Chives to be good for sore throats.
Just like Garlic hanged around doorways, and house, Onion Chives were believed to keep the evil spirits away.
Back to Gardener's Pastimes in May page
Feedback - contact.tcg.now@gmail.com
References - Find more about: Hardiness Zones
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to Town & Country Gardens Contributors: blogger, bulabean, dive-angel (Karin), flickr, Jasmine&Roses, Ophelia 219 / CC by 2.0, Rita Crane Photography. Rita Crane, daughter of LIFE magazine photographer Ralph Crane. Her work can be seen on Flickr at Rita Crane Photography or on her website., TMR Davies, Wikipedia, W.D. Williams
