How to Fertilize Chives
Chives thrive in nearly any well-drained soil. These hardy perennials emerge in early spring in a grasslike clump of hollow leaves. Blooms appear atop the stems creating the illusion of tiny floating pompoms in delicate lavender. Used fresh in salads or dips or chopped and added to herbed butters or cooked in omelets, chives add a mild onion flavor. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Amend the planting area with a 2- to 3-inch layer of well-rotted manure or compost before planting chives. This improves drainage, increases aeration and provides slow-release nutrients to the chives.
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Fertilize chives in the spring when new growth appears by sprinkling 1/4 cup of 5-10-5 fertilizer around the base of the clump and working it into the top 2 inches of the soil. The University of Minnesota Extension explains that organic matter in the soil often provides adequate nutrients for chives, but that a light application of fertilizer in the spring may be needed on chives that were harvested heavily the previous year.
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Use water-soluble fertilizer mixed to one-quarter to one-half strength on chives grown in containers. Apply every four to six weeks throughout the summer.
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Tips & Warnings
Grow chives in a sunny location that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day.
Avoid overfertilizing chives, as like most herbs, chives develop the best flavor in average to poor soil. Too much fertilizer inhibits the oils responsible for flavor and fragrance.
