How do you cut chives so that they grow back?

Also known as ‘civette’, chives are a much-loved condiment in cooking. Their fine, fragrant leaves add a distinctive flavour to dishes. As well as the leaves, the flowers of the chive – which take the form of spherical, mauve umbels – are also edible. It is fairly easy to grow chives in your vegetable garden. However, as with most crops, certain care is required to ensure the plants grow well, and to encourage regrowth, chives must be cut in a specific way.

Remove flower buds regularly

One of the things you need to do to look after chives is to remove the flower buds as soon as they form. This prevents the plant from becoming exhausted by going to seed. You can, however, leave every other flower if you intend to produce seeds or use the buds for decoration or as a garnish on a salad.

Cut the chive stalks as required

To get the full flavour of chives when using them in cooking, chop them at the last minute if possible. Chopping chives is surely one of the most enjoyable tasks when it comes to growing them. It’s worth remembering that chives aid digestion. It is therefore a good idea to use them in cooking. They contain minerals and are rich in vitamins A, B and C.

The first harvests usually take place in spring, when the chive plants reach a height of around 15 cm. Proceed as follows:

• Take a pair of garden shears and cut the stalks at the base, as if you cut them halfway up, they may become tough and their tips may turn yellow;
• Next, wash your chives, drain them, then wrap them in a clean tea towel to absorb any moisture.

Once you’ve done this, your stalks are ready to be chopped and used straight away to garnish an omelette, a salad or a sauce.

Prune the chives regularly

To allow the chive plant to regenerate, it is recommended that you cut it back completely to just a few centimetres above the ground. Always use scissors to ensure the new foliage is fine and abundant. In a nutshell, this is key to enjoying the best flavour. Furthermore, if you have several chive plants, it is advisable not to cut them all back at the same time. That way, you’ll always have some to hand.

A few tips for storing chives

Although chives are best enjoyed when freshly cut, you may find yourself with too many, for example after trimming. The solution, then, is to be able to store them for a few days or even several months.

To store your chives in the fridge, simply place them in a glass filled with fresh water. You can also wrap them in slightly damp kitchen roll before sealing them in a plastic bag and placing them in the vegetable drawer. In the latter case, you’ll need to change the kitchen roll daily.

If you want to keep them for longer, freeze your chives after washing, drying, chopping and packing them into small bundles. You’ll be able to keep them for around 6 months.