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Chickpeas need plenty of nutrients to thrive, which is why regular fertilization is important, especially during the growing season. In addition to compost, coffee grounds are also great for fertilizing chives, as they provide essential nutrients and keep the soil slightly acidic.
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If you also want to improve the organic matter and microorganisms in the soil, use a natural fertilizer. Granular fertilizer provides the best way to nourish chives, releasing nutrients to the herbs slowly, over a long period of time. You only need to fertilize at the beginning of the season in March and again until July at the latest. All-purpose fertilizers, such as our Plantura All-Purpose Plant Food, provide the plant with all the essential nutrients for healthy chives, while supporting soil life. Simply spread the fertilizer over the herbs and work it lightly into the soil. Afterwards, water the fertilized areas well to provide the nutrients to the plants.
This is the recipe for Fines Herbes
Chopped chives, parsley, chervil, and tarragon.
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Splitting and Transplanting a Mature Chive Plant
An easier way than starting chives from seed is to split and transplant a mature chive plant into your garden.
Large chive plants are a cluster of small chive bulbs and need to be divided every few years to encourage new growth. This also leaves room for new shoots to grow and will encourage faster growth.
When to Plant Chives
- Seed starting indoors: Sow the seeds indoors from late winter to early summer; planting seeds in flats Seeds need darkness to germinate. Cover seed trays or pots with a piece of newspaper or cardboard to aid germination. Seeds should germinate in about 14 days at 70 °F. After germination, as seedlings begin to grow, remove the cover and place the seedlings under fluorescent light or in a bright window. Let them grow until they are 4 to 6 inches tall and ready for transplanting.
- Transplant to the garden: Transplant the seedlings into the garden from late spring to late summer.
- Outdoor planting time: Chives are hardy plants. Plant chive seeds in the garden as early as 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost. The seed will germinate in 2 to 3 weeks at 60 °F. Chive divisions are among the first plants that can be laid in the garden in early spring.
- Planting depth: Plant seed ¼ to ½ inch deep. Seeds require darkness to germinate; cover the seed with a light planting mix.
- Spacing: Space clumps or rows of chives 8 to 12 inches apart; plants will fill in over time. To plant divisions, use a spade or shovel to divide existing clumps, trim the leaves back to 1 inch above the ground and replant the divisions covering the bulbs with soil.
- How much to plant: Grow 4 bunches of chives for cooking and use in the kitchen; grow 6 clumps to preserve.
Sowing Seeds Outside
Whether you plant indoors or outdoors, the seeds are small, and should not be planted more than a quarter inch deep.
If your growing season is long enough and you are not worried about having a harvest in the first few months, direct seeding is a viable and cheap option.
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