Chives do indeed multiply over time . This is one of the reasons why they are such a popular and easy - to - grow herb in many garden . Chive bulbs have the ability to create offsets , which are minor electric-light bulb that grow around the main incandescent lamp . These offsets finally ripen into full - sized bulbs , creating a clump of chives .
Over time , if left undisturbed , the cluster of Allium schoenoprasum can become quite large and may initiate to overcrowd itself . This can lead to minify vigor and small , less flavorful leaves . To defend healthy and generative chive plants , you should disunite them every 3 long time or so .
divide chives is a comparatively round-eyed operation that can be done either in former spring or declination . Personally , I prefer to separate chives in the spring when the weather is starting to warm up , as it give the plants a whole growing season to establish themselves before wintertime .
To divide chives , start by digging up the entire clump using a garden branching or shovel . Gently shake off any loose soil from the bulbs to get a better look at the individual bulbs and offsets . You may notice that the bulbs are connected by thin white rhizomes , which are hush-hush stem .
Next , cautiously separate the bulb into small clump by gently pulling them aside . It ’s important to do by the electric-light bulb with care to stave off damage their roots or stems . If some of the bulbs are particularly stubborn and do n’t desire to separate , you may use a clean , sharp tongue to cut through the rhizomes .
Once you have divided the chive bulbs into modest clusters , it ’s time to replant them . take a cheery fix in your garden or a worthy container if you are growing chives indoors . Prepare the soil by loosening it and adding some compost or well - rotted manure for added nutrients .
Plant each clump of bulb at a depth of about 1 - 2 inches , space them around 6 - 8 in asunder . This will give them enough room to uprise and prevent overcrowding in the futurity . softly tauten the soil around the bulbs and water them thoroughly to help them descend in .
After replanting , it ’s important to leave regular maintenance for your newly divided schnittlaugh . Water them regularly , especially during dry periods , and keep an oculus out for any signs of gadfly or disease . Chives are mostly quite hardy and downcast - maintenance , but it ’s always a unspoilt idea to supervise their health .
Chives do multiply over sentence through the production of offsets . To keep your chive industrial plant healthy and forestall overcrowding , it ’s recommended to divide them every 3 year . Dividing chives is a simple cognitive process that involve digging up the cluster , separating the bulbs into little clusters , and replanting them . By survey these steps , you’re able to ensure that your chive plant continue to prosper and provide you with a bountiful harvest for years to come up .
Caroline Bates