Garlic chives, also known as Chinese chives, are a flavourful and aromatic herb used in a variety of culinary dishes. Their mild garlic flavour makes them a versatile ingredient for both fresh and cooked meals. Whether you’re growing garlic chives as microgreens for a quick harvest or cultivating full-sized plants for long-term use, they are an excellent addition to any home garden.
Garlic Chive (Allium Tuberosum)
Tall, cylindrical, dark green leaves with the seed attached to enhance flavour. Very similar to chives but offers a subtle garlic flavour, ideal for salads, garnishes and enhancing various dishes.
Growing Garlic Chives: Microgreen vs Herbs
Garlic chives can be grown as quick-harvest microgreens or as perennial herbs.
Garlic chive microgreens are young seedlings harvested shortly after germination, offering concentrated flavours and nutrients. They provide a great colour contrast, often with the seed husk left intact for visual appeal.
Mature garlic chive herbs, on the other hand, develop broader leaves and can be harvested over multiple seasons. They are widely used as a fresh or cooked herb in various culinary applications, adding a delicate garlic-onion flavour to dishes.
Part 1. Growing Garlic Chive Microgreens
What You’ll Need:
- Seeds: use high quality seeds from a trusted source like Ausallium.
- Growing Medium: Well-draining soil or a soilless medium like coconut coir or hemp mats.
- Tray or container: Shallow trays with drainage holes.
- Light Source: Natural sunlight or grow lights.
- Water: Spray bottle or gentle watering can.
How to grow:
- Prepare the growing medium: Fill your tray evenly with your chosen medium. Moisten it evenly to make sure it’s damp but not soaked.
- Sow the seeds: Distribute seeds evenly across the surface.
- Germination: Cover the tray to block light and retain moisture. Place in a warm area, checking daily to keep moist. Germination usually takes 7-14 days.
- Provide light: once seeds have germinated and sprouts appear, remove the cover and expose them to light.
- Watering: Maintain moisture by misting or bottom watering to prevent mould
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Harvesting: When microgreens reach around 4-7 cm in height, trim them just below the surface
Part 2. Growing Mature Garlic Chive Herbs
What You’ll Need:
- Seeds: High-quality Garlic Chive seeds from a trusted source like Ausallium.
- Light: Plant in a location with full sun.
- Containers: Can plant in a container or directly in soil.
- Water: Consistent water source.
How to grow:
- Planting: Sow garlic chive in a well-lit, well draining medium. You can sow in pots for transplanting or direct in soil 5mm deep.
- Germination: Garlic chive seeds typically germinate in 7-14 days. At this stage, they can also be harvested as microgreens.
- Maintenance: Make sure to keep medium moist but not waterlogged. You can apply fertiliser to plants at the recommended rate after transplanting or when 10 cm tall.
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Harvest: Garlic chives are ready for harvest in approximately 60-90 days. Cut the leaves for harvest at the base.
Trouble Shooting Common Growing Issues:
- Aphids: These sap-sucking insects congregate on the undersides of leaves, causing wilting and discoloration. Use pest control measures when needed.
- Rust: A fungal disease that causes brown raised spots on leaves. Prevent this by ensuring good airflow, proper spacing, and full sun exposure.
- Onion Thrips: Small pests that cause silver streaks on leaves and reduce productivity and yield. Can be on inner leaves or bulbs. Wash thrips off and use pest control measures if necessary.
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Bolting: Premature flowering due to extreme heat. Prevent this by ensuring plants receive adequate water and trimming flower stalks when they appear.
Seed Storage Tips
- Cool & Dry: Store away from heat and sunlight.
- Airtight Containers: Prevent moisture exposure.
- Labelling: Mark variety and date when storing.
- Moisture Prevention: Use silica gel packets if in a humid climate.
Uses and Health Benefits:
- Microgreens: Packed with vitamins A, C and K, plus antioxidants. Use in salads, sandwiches, soups or as a garnish.
- Herbs: Essential for stir frys, dumplings, soups and much more.
Final thoughts:
Growing garlic chives - whether as microgreens or full-sized herbs - is an easy and rewarding way to enjoy their unique garlic-onion flavour year-round. Whether you're a home gardener or commercial grower, Ausallium offers premium garlic chive seeds to get you started!
Order your garlic chive seeds from Ausallium today and start growing!
