Instructions: Chives are one of the easiest and most enjoyable herbs you can grow. They are the first to pop up in the spring, and are often ready to harvest before we have gotten our last frost!

The flowers are wonderful little globes of purple that are spicy and can be used in salads. The plant is a perennial and returns each year. It grows in full sun, but can handle a small amount of shade. You can grow it from seeds, which are very tiny and do take awhile to germinate and grow. The best thing to do is buy one or two plants at a garden center (not the grocery store), and plant them

In a sunny spot with good soil. I have found chives do not need fertilizer, mulch or extra water. They are self-sufficient little plants that only need to be watered during dry periods.

Chives in Cooking
Chives are best used fresh. They can be frozen in small plastic bags and used right out of the freezer also. Before I started gardening with herbs I only thought of chives for topping baked potatoes, but they are good for so much more! You can add them to scrambled eggs or any egg dish, dips, sauces, breads, biscuits and off course any potato dishes. The following recipes are easy and versatile. You can substitute margarine for the butter if you need to. Remember, these toppings are savory, so you dont need much! The great thing about them is they accent your healthy vegetable and fish dishes and make the simplest meal elegant.

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