Asking that question though is almost like asking "Are we growing Perilla this year?" or "Have you seen any deer in the garden lately?" or "Do you still love bamboo?" The answer to all of these questions is an emphatic "YES!".
I planted my first garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) probably a decade ago or more along with regular chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and several other herbs. There may be one small patch of regular chives -- which have rounded hollow leaves and bloom purple early in the season -- left in the garden, but the garlic chives -- which have flat leaves and bloom white late in the season -- are growing almost everywhere.
I let them though, because this is a time of the year when I could use a bit of reliable blooming, even when the rest of the veggie beds have gone fallow:
The pollinators sense that autumn is approaching too, and they too appreciate these blooms:
If you've never tasted garlic chives, they're like a mix of mild onion and mild garlic. Not really the best of snacks when you're working out in the garden, but they do work so nicely in so many recipes.
The seed heads are so attractive too, which is why I always have so many seedlings of this growing -- I leave the seeds out there too long!
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| A photo from 2010 showing how pretty garlic chive seed heads are |
As I said though, I don't mind having these everywhere when they start blooming. I've never been able to give any of these plants (or seeds) away either -- every gardener I know grows them already!
The scones were amazing if you're wondering.
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I have garlic chives also (big surprise) and they have likewise seeded themselves around my garden. I use them mainly in the spring, when other herbs are scarce and their bright green adds some color to whatever I'm making. Garlic/gouda chives sound pretty good!
ReplyDeleteLOL When a woman asks her dear hubby "do we have?" that is an invitation for said hubby to go get it for her! ;-) That scone combo sounds wonderful... I need to do some baking. And methinks put in some garlic chives in the garden. Are they a fall planting or spring?
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, the questions made me laugh aloud.
ReplyDeleteThe seeds resemble morning glory seeds.
We still have the regular chives (we've had them for years and years) but our garlic chives disappeared. Time to get more! I do like them for cooking.
ReplyDeleteI think your wife needs to do a guest post and share that recipe.
ReplyDeleteDC: They are pretty versatile, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteTeri: Earlier in the year I'd be hoping she was asking for a plant I didn't have -- an excuse to buy one. This late though I tire of new plants and am relieved that we do indeed have the requested plant already. :)
Gerhard: I guess you don't let them go to seed? Or maybe you have a predator there that takes them out?
Loree: Not a bad idea, especially since we didn't take photos she'll need to bake another batch. Yum!
I love your useful and interesting bits of gardening info...I am adding garlic to my garden this year.
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