Droopy chives.

Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 08:47:09 +1000
To: The Culinary Herbs & Spices List <HERBS.HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From: Russell Hansen <Russell.Hansen.QED.QLD.GOV.AU>
Subject: Re: chives

> A question...the only herb not happy in my above set-up are my chives, who are always droopy and the stalks are quite thin (though rather tasty - smack). Any advice on how to make them happier?

The only reason my chives have ever been droopy (except when the dog lies on them) is if I don't give them enough water. I've got 3 clumps that need separating into about 20 clumps - I'll have to start preserving it. How do chives go in a food dehydrator?

From: Laurie Otto <lotto.PTIALASKA.NET>

> The only reason my chives have ever been droopy (except when the dog lies

Chives can also look bad if they have onion maggots, which chew away at the underground parts of the chives and cause them to fail to thrive. You can see the tell-tale white spots on the chive leaves, or if you dig them up, you can see them in the root clumps. I've also had chives look unhappy when they are in a spot where they don't get adequate drainage, so I wonder about the location where you have them planted.

But Mindy, don't tell me that you already have chives that are in a condition to look bad - you're not that much further south than me! But maybe you're talking about last year. If not, I covet your spring...

And Russell, I wouldn't bother drying chives. They freeze really well. I cut them into pieces, and put them in the freezer in hard sided containers (jars or plastic) and then spoon out the quantity I need. Frozen chives keep their flavor. In my opinion, you could substitute little tiny pieces of green construction paper for dried chives and be hard-pressed to tell the difference.