Charlottechicken Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Does anyone do this? If so, any pointers would be useful I've just cut all the dried flower heads off my chives and realised they were full of seeds, so I'm saving them. However, the chives I had are from the reduced shelf in the supermarket, so I'm not sure if the seed is sterile I think it's the wrong time of year too, and I read somewhere that once the seeds start growing you should plant them 8 inches apart, that's not going to happen in my garden I'm afraid! Oh well!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I'm pretty sure I have grown them from packet seed, but never tried growing as you suggest. What have you got to lose - a bit of compost, a bit of water, and see what happens! I don't see why supermarket ones should be sterile necessarily. I wouldn't worry about the 8" apart, either. I just have a clump of chives, I couldn't tell you if it's one plant or several close together. A word of warning - my hens absolutely love them. I grow them in a pot, and have a hanging basket turned upside down over them to try and protect them - this year they have been pruned to a uniform 6" high or so, which is as close as Sadie Speckledy can get her beak through the basket! I keep meaning to move them somewhere a bit less tempting, but I'm sure she'll find them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 A word of warning - my hens absolutely love them. I grow them in a pot, and have a hanging basket turned upside down over them to try and protect them - this year they have been pruned to a uniform 6" high or so, which is as close as Sadie Speckledy can get her beak through the basket! I keep meaning to move them somewhere a bit less tempting, but I'm sure she'll find them. Funny you should say that Olly, chives are the ONLY plant in my garden that the hens don't touch!!!! I'm sure chives can be grown from seed, got to be worth a go!!? Let us know what happens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I've grown chives from seed but not tried saved seed but I can't see why it shouldn't work,after all it worked when I tried shop brought banana shallots after they went to seed the second yaer I planted them. just sow them into a 3" pot lightly cover with compost and treat them like onion seed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I tried and failed this year. Asda have growing herb pots for 50p this week so I bought a chive one yesterday and hope to plant that outside. For that price it doesn't hurt to try. I started my mint off that way last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 I do my chives in a pot rather than in the ground - easier to keep them nearer the kitchen door that way! usually a pot lasts 2-3 years and when they look a bit scraggy I just start again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
