Garlic chives are graceful herbs with pretty white flowers. The combination of a chive-like appearance and strong garlic flavor makes garlic chives a popular seasoning. Chopped fresh garlic chives are found in recipes for Chinese dishes including stir-fries, and they are used in Japanese cuisine as well.
What Are Garlic Chives?
With their white flowers, long green shoots, and lack of a bulb, garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) bear a strong resemblance to regular chives. That's not surprising since both are members of the onion family. However, while the standard chive has a mild flavor similar to onions, Chinese garlic chives are known for their strong garlicky flavor. Besides finding them in the supermarket, you can grow garlic chives in your garden or a container herb garden.
Origins
The Chinese have been growing and cooking with garlic chives for at least 3,000 years, dating back to the Chou dynasty (1027 BC to 256 BC). But the popularity of this herb extends beyond China. Japanese cooks call garlic chives nira and use them frequently in meat and seafood recipes.
Sowing garlic chives
Sowing is naturally the first step towards cultivation. In the following sections, we answer your questions on when, where and how to best sow garlic chives.
The right location
The herb from China thrives both in garden beds and in pots. It prefers a full sun to sunny location. Ideally, the plant should be in full sun for half the day, but it can just about cope with semi-shaded locations as well. On the other hand, the chives do not want to be completely in the shade. The soil should be rich in humus and nutrients. In addition, the tasty herb loves evenly moist soil. However, it does not cope at all with waterlogging.
