Big chives plant ??

[Jeannine]

When on the lottie yesterday(first Saturday visit and  it was crawling with folks)Several  people wandered over to welcome us and each brought a plant.

One was a huge bucket filled with chives in flower. The lady who brought it couldn't speak English so after taking the plant John got a hug and so did I, we managed to swap names...just.

She was trying to indicate to me what to do with the plant, she seemed to be suggesting that I cut it down .

Please can someone tell me  if this is right, I don't want to offend her.. I would have just left it.

XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

[redcoat]

She might have been demonstrating how to cut some to use.

I would split it into small clumps to plant it out as it will spread.

[Ninnyscrops.]

I'd divide the clump too, the flowers will set seed so leave them for the bees but try and gather the seed before they fall.

Ninny

[goodlife]

When I divide my chives I cut them down as they tend to go limp anyway and they will establish better with less foliage..maybe this is what she was trying to say..?

[redcoat]

When I divide my chives I cut them down as they tend to go limp anyway and they will establish better with less foliage..maybe this is what she was trying to say..?

The flowers are a tasty addition to a salad too.

[chriscross1966]

I'd probably eat more of my allium flowers (welsh onions and chives generally) if it wasn't for how much bees love them,  and the bee-witch on our site is a charming young lady I wouldn't want to offend.....

chrisc

[Jeannine]

Could I not just leave it in the big bucket and keep it like that.

I was sitting next to it today and watched a bee go from flower to flower just inches away, it has red "pouches" either side of it's body, very interesting to be so close and watch it for a few minutes.

Back to the chives, will the plant die if I don't cut it or seperate it.

XX Jeannine

[goodlife]

You could leave it in large bucket,,if it has hole in the bottom or in tub...and divide it later on the year..then you and the bees will enjoy the flowers...or wait untill flowering is over and tackle the clump...
If you were to leave it as it is...and it doesn't have nowhere to go..well....it is like 2 pumpkins in bucket..they will grow but not very happyly..separate them and they will do better... ;)...you know now... ;) ;D
...no they will not die...

[Jeannine]

Thank you, I will leave it for a bit then..John is frantically building beds so maybe i will have aplace for it later.XX Jeannine

[antipodes]

Chives are now the thing i grow best because I don't do anything to them :)
I never cut off the flowers, they are too beautiful, I let them self seed, then dig up the plants once they have grown in spring, if you take the root ball they happily grow elsewhere. I hack off a few stems here and there, they are lovely in omelette, salad, stir fry, anything. I take bunches of flowers to work! They happily sit in a glass of water for a few days.
I would leave them where they are Jeannine, let them self seed and you can give away pots of chives, or transplant them next spring...

[Robert_Brenchley]

I was sitting next to it today and watched a bee go from flower to flower just inches away, it has red "pouches" either side of it's body, very interesting to be so close and watch it for a few minutes.
XX Jeannine

I bet the 'pouches' were pollen lumps on the back legs. Over here they're all collecting bright orange pollen from dandelions, but I don't know what's in flower over there.

[saddad]

Clover I would think...  :-\

[Jeannine]

Oh gosh I will have to look closer a what is in flower, at the lottie. the pink blossoms on the trees have been and gone, azaleas,and rhodies are in full bloom right now and there are lots of them all around the lottie common areas, my balcony clematis is almost in bloom and the window box geraniums are super.I did notice a tree today which was in bloom , not a tree I recognise , it had what looked lik creamy white  lilac pointing upright, but it wasn't lilac and it wasn't a bush either it was a huge regular  tree. XX Jeannine