How chives propagate

How chives propagate

Chives or Hungarian garlic (Allium schoenoprasum L., 1753) is an aromatic plant of the Liliaceae family. This perennial plant is native to Europe, Asia and North America (cold and temperate-cold regions) where it grows in humid meadows up to 2,500 m.
Chives are widespread in home gardens and certain documents attest to the cultivation of this herb as early as 16th century Europe.
Chives grow well both in the sun and in shaded areas but require a lot of water during the summer and a constantly humid soil. It also prefers calcareous and rich soil and is a very rustic aromatic herb, very easy to grow.
This plant can be propagated both by gamic way, therefore by seed, or by agamic way therefore by means of parts of adult plants.
It is important that it is grown on a light and well-drained substratum.
Sowing can take place at the beginning of spring directly in the vegetable garden, or in the seedbed in March and then transplanted in April.

The sprigs of chives, after they are well developed, must be transplanted into the ground at a distance of 30–40 cm; or they can be placed in jars in a sunny position.
Propagation by division of tufts –
Chives can also be propagated vegetatively.
The division by tufts is a rather simple method provided that some rules are respected. This operation must be carried out in autumn or at the end of winter, taking advantage of the vegetative rest of the plant. The roots of this aromatic plant are grouped into bulbs; for this reason, especially if the mother plant grows on light soil, it is easy to remove it from the ground and obtain several smaller tufts to transplant.
The individual tufts are then planted in pots with richer soil. When they are well developed they are placed in the ground, preferably in sunny areas.
At the time of transplanting it is important to water abundantly.
For the details of the cultivation technique, refer to the following sheet.