Chives belongs to a species of flowering plant in the onion family. It is native to Asia and Europe. This perennial herb is grown for its leaves, which are milder in taste and aroma.


Origin
Chive belongs to the family of onion. It is believed that it is native to Central Asia but now it is grown everywhere in Europe. It is also cultivated in some parts of Asia and North America.

Chemical Constituents
Chives consist of methyl pentyl disulfide, dipropyl disulfide pentanethiol, etc. These compounds are volatile in nature. It also contains good amount of vitamins A and C.

Types of Chives

• Common chives
• Garlic or Chinese Chives

Forms of Chives

• Fresh leaves
• Dried and powdered leaves

Cultivation Of Chives
Chive is grown in soil that is well drained and where there is ample sunlight. The soil should be rich in Humus. It can grow nearly in all types of soil. The soil must be well fertilized and manured to get the good results. During growing seasons the chives should be well watered and weeded.
Planting and Culture Seeds germinate easily. The seeds should be sown about 1/2 inch deep while sowing, constant moisture in the soil should be maintained. The young plants can be planted outdoor after the danger of frost has passed.

Chives can also be seeded directly outside if the soil is warm. The planting should be done in rows. The space between the plant should be kept 4 to 15 inches. In order to prevent overcrowding, all l plantings should be divided every two to three years.

Harvesting
Plant is harvested after it has attained the height of 6 inches. Harvesting is done simply by cutting the leaves 2 inches above the ground. For smaller operation leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season whereas in larger operations whole clump of plants is cut 2 inches above the ground. After few weeks again the plant is ready to be reharvested. However all plants should be cut on a regular basis in order to encourage the formation of new bulblets.

History of Chives Chives have been cultivated since many thousand years. It is believed that Chinese were the earliest cultivators of Chives. In medieval ages it was cultivated in Europe. Earlier it was used for treating various physical problems. Romans for instance considered it to provide relief the pain from sunburn or a sore throat. It was also believed that it acts as diuretic. In Romania it was used in fortune telling.

Trade in Chives
There is small scale commercial production of Chives in USA. Its derivatives including chive butter and essential oil are also manufactured on a small scale. Florida, New Jersey and California are some of the areas where chives are cultivated and grown.

Uses of Chives
Food
Chives are widely used in Japanese cuisine for its mild flavor and aroma, it is also used for seasoning certain dishes. It also adds color to the dish. Fresh leaves are used to make herbal vinegar and butter.

Medicinal Use
Chives belong to the onion family and contain sulfur. The herb has been known to naturally treat blood pressure and cholesterol, and to prevent cancer. The herb is used to stimulate appetite and promote digestion, Chives are added liberally to cooked dishes for medicinal purposes.