BOTANICAL NAME: Allium tuberosum syn A. odoratumi
COMMON NAMES: Garlic chives; Chinese chives; kau tsoi
FAMILY: Alliaceae
PLANT DESCRIPTION
Perennial herb forming dense clumps with grass-like flat leaves rarely taller than 25 cm. Each bulb has 4 to 5 leaves. The leaves have a mild garlic flavour, are flat and about 0.5 cm wide. The blossom is a flat-headed spray of star-shaped white flowers with a pleasant perfume. Chinese chives are easy to grow and tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions.
USES
Food: the leaves are used chopped in sauces, soups, salads and as a garnish. Add the chives only in the last few minutes of cooking, as they have a tendency to become stringy if overcooked. The flower buds are also used as a garnish or in Asian cooking.
Ornamental: decorative edging plant for herb and vegetable gardens.
Companion plant: garlic chives are believed to be a companion plant for roses and have a repellent effect on aphids.
PLANTING DETAILS
Recommended Planting Time: Sow seed in mid-spring, or divide clumps in spring or autumn.
Planting Depth: Cover the rhizomes with 2 cm of soil.
Sowing Rate: Plants should be spaced 20 cm apart.
Growing Details: To divide clumps, trim the tops, lift them, trim the roots and separate the rhizomes. Each rhizome can then be replanted. Division every two years improves the vigour of the clumps. Do not allow the plants to set seed unless you want to save seed as this will decrease the vigour of the clump. Seed will only remain viable for one year.
