Description

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), known in Italian as Erba Cipollina, are a popular culinary herb prized for their slender, hollow green leaves and delicate onion-like flavour. This hardy perennial grows in attractive clumps and produces beautiful purple-pink flowers that attract bees and other beneficial pollinators.

Perfect for fresh salads, soups, omelettes, baked potatoes, dips, sauces and garnishes, chives add a mild onion flavour without overpowering dishes. Their compact growth makes them an excellent choice for kitchen herb gardens, balconies and containers.

🌱 Growing Instructions

☀️ Sunlight: Prefers 4–6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Benefits from partial afternoon shade during Malta’s hot summer months.

💧 Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water regularly during warm, dry weather to maintain tender, healthy leaves.

🌱 Soil: Plant in fertile, well-draining soil enriched with compost or organic matter.

🌡️ Temperature: Grows best between 10°C–25°C. Tolerates Malta’s mild winters well, although growth may slow during cooler months. Protect from intense summer heat.

📏 Spacing: Allow approximately 20–30 cm between plants for healthy clump development and good air circulation.

🌾 Fertilizer: Apply a balanced organic or herb fertilizer every 3–4 weeks during active growth, following product instructions.

✂️ Harvesting: Snip leaves approximately 3–5 cm above the soil as needed, allowing fresh growth to develop. Regular harvesting encourages healthy, tender foliage. Remove faded flowers to maintain leaf production.

🌿 Local Growing Tips (Malta)

Best planting season: September to April, although established plants can grow throughout much of the year with suitable care.

Position: Herb gardens, raised beds, balconies or containers receiving morning sunlight and afternoon shade.

Companion plants: Parsley, carrots, lettuce and tomatoes.

Common issue: Yellowing or drying leaf tips can result from excessive heat, underwatering or poor drainage. Maintain consistent moisture and protect plants from strong afternoon sunlight.

📦 Product Information

Variety: Erba Cipollina (Chives)

Botanical Name: Allium schoenoprasum

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Plant Type: Perennial Culinary Herb

Pot Size: 14 cm

Growth Habit: Compact, Upright and Clump-Forming

Flowering Season: Spring to Early Summer

Harvest Season: Mainly Autumn to Spring, with extended harvesting possible under suitable conditions

Special Characteristics: Delicate onion-flavoured leaves, compact growth, attractive edible purple-pink flowers and excellent regrowth after cutting.

Important Information

Pictures shown may vary from actual product due to the live nature of the items. Some items may be out of stock for various reasons, we will issue a refund or offer alternatives should that be the case.

The price is per one plant in a 14 cm pot.