Chives are a very tasty and vitamin-rich leek vegetable that can be easily grown both in the garden and on the balcony. No wonder that the undemanding spice and medicinal herb is so popular. To ensure that your plant feels comfortable with you, you should ensure it is in the right location.
Which location is ideal for chives?
Chives prefer a location with sun to partial shade, loose, permeable and nutrient-rich soil that is not too wet to avoid waterlogging. Calcareous soils are particularly suitable, and a neutral to alkaline pH value is optimal.
Sun to partial shade
Chives are actually not particularly picky when it comes to sun. Although it prefers sunny to partially shaded locations, it often thrives very well in the shade. However, especially on hot summer days, you have to make sure that the plant gets enough water - and that it is protected from strong sunlight in sunny places. Chives need a lot of water and should therefore be watered regularly in dry periods. At the same time, however, the herb must not be too wet, as waterlogging quickly leads to root rot.
The optimal soil
For this reason, the optimal soil for chives is loose and permeable, but also nutrient-rich. A balanced mixture of humus and sand is optimal, with the humus proportion should predominate. For improved moisture, you can also add some clay powder (€22.00 on Amazon) (available at hardware stores or garden centers). The desired pH value is in the neutral to alkaline range - i.e. H. Chives don't like acidic soils at all, which is something they have in common with most other culinary herbs. Also common is the preference for lime - this also means that you can water chives - and other herbs - with tap water without worry.
Tips & Tricks
If you cultivate chives and other herbs on soil with a low lime content, you should regularly supply them with magnesium lime (but conventional garden lime also works). You can easily determine whether these lime doses are actually necessary using a test strip.
