Chives

[montbrayon]

I see that my chives are now growing and are about 3ins tall.  I have 3 different sorts growing, not sure what they are called but I am wanting to know can I divide them, I read somewhere you can divide them but when? Is it ok to do it now or should I wait till autumn?  They were transplanted last year at about this time of year, to my new plot, would this make a difference about dividing them ??? ??? ???

[montbrayon]

[saddad]

We use them to divide our root beds... and move them once they start sprouting... last week.  :)

[Obelixx]

Chives are very forgiving.  I divided a whole load last spring to break up some big clumps and then divided a whole lot more last autumn to use as edging plants in the fruit and veg plot.   They're all growing well and producing strong new shoots, both the standard purple flowered kind and the supposedly less vigorous white ones.

[Robert_Brenchley]

You can split them any time; they're as tough as anything.

[montbrayon]

Thanks for the info folks, will now split them.  I was worried that I might kill them by dividing them.
A little job for tomorrow I think, weather permitting  :-\

[antipodes]

I have found the best way to get chives is to let them self seed. This produces each spring loads of small clumps all over the allotment! SO either I just cut down a whole clump each time I want chives, or I dig up clumps and group them together at the end of a row or in a corner.
They are the easiest thing I grow!  I love them in salads and omelettes, yum, they always look so fresh and vitamin-y!