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Allium
tuberosum
GARLIC
CHIVES |
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A more beautiful
lily there has never been. For lovers of garlic, this certainly holds
true. The subtle garlic flavor of Garlic Chives is perfect for use in uncooked dishes where
raw regular garlic might be overwhelming or too spicy.
This Asian beauty is sometimes
called Perennial Chinese Chives or Chinese leeks or even just leek.
While not the true leek, this is probably a reference to their blades
which resemble little leek leaves.
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Garlic Chive flowers, which are also edible, bloom in the
warmth of summer, which is in contrast to the early spring flowers of
regular Chives.
Let a few flower heads go to seed and ripen. The shiny
black seeds are a peppery delicacy when sprouted: the perfect winter treat.
When they are in full bloom the beneficial insects and
bees flock to the pure white nectar rich Garlic Chive flowers. |
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As you can see here, Garlic Chives have
a flat blade. Regular Chives, on the other hand, have hollow spears.
Both are great tasting and easy to grow and can be used interchangeably in
recipes. The finely
chopped blades are great added to stir-frys and egg dishes. |
Garlic
Chives
do make a very small bulb that can be used like a small green onion.
Harvest bulbs while the flower is still a bud. Be sure to
leave some of the bulbs in the ground so the plant can continue to grow. Harvest
blades by cutting all the way to the ground. This allows new foliage to be
free of grassy half blades that have been left behind to turn brown on the
tips.
Garlic Chives are sometimes grown blanched, or without light, to produce
white blades, similar to white asparagus. Like all plants, Garlic Chives
prefer fertile ground. Divide every few years when production seems to
slow. |
For recipes
and more information on garlic chives, please visit our pinterest board
here.
Garlic Chives are one of the six plants
included in our Gourmet
Herb Garden Six Pack. They also make
a great addition to
our Small Space Herb Garden Six
Pack and our
Edible Flower Garden Six Pack.
This plant is often
available in plug trays. These trays hold 128 of all the
same plant. They are a great low cost way to fill a lot of
space. Each cell is 3/4 of inch by an inch. Check here to see
if
Garlic Chive Plug
Trays
are available. |