Chives

I adore chives and so do the bees which makes me super happy.

These are perennial and you can sow chives anytime from January onwards. Wherever you want to eventually plant your chive plants, that is, in the ground or in a pot, the basic germination instructions are the same.

Sow seeds undercover in modules or small pots or, if sowing directly, sow outside from May. Scatter sow the seeds thinly onto damp compost and cover lightly. Germination takes 14-21 days. Germination, as with all seeds, is better using heat, so use an airing cupboard or a heat mat or heated propagator. Once germinated, remove from heat and allow to grow on in an area of good light such as a greenhouse or a sunny windowsill. If sowing into the ground, sow in their final planting position. Sow after frosts into an area of prepared soil, i.e. raked to a fine tilth. Scatter sow and cover with a light layer of soil and water in gently.

When the module or pot shows roots protruding from underneath, and the compost is held together when lifted out, the plant will be ready to transplant. When large enough to handle plant into final growing position. I have lots of chives in my flower borders but they are very good planted into pots, the bees love the flowers ( which are edible for us too) and they are perennial and will come back year after year.