We have chives growing in the garden, not only because they are tasty, but also because they are wonderful pest deterrents and great plant food.  After a couple years of growing, the chives start multiplying into a huge clump and need to be spread out so they can continue to grow in a healthy environment.  To keep your chives healthy, split them up.  Once you dig them up and split the clump into a few clumps, you now have many chives to spread around your garden for more food, pest protection, and plant food.  Or you could share some with friends.

The whole process was very easy.  Step one: Dig up the huge clump.

Step two: Separate the clump into clumps.  I shook the dirt out of the clump and jiggled the clump apart.  The roots spread fairly easy.  The kids helped with this step without harm to the plants.

We ended up with seven plants from one.

Step three: Replant the new, smaller clumps into their new homes, wherever that may be.  We put our in the giant hugel bed where the squash and giant pumpkins reside.

Done.  Once they get growing, give them a haircut every now and then for plant food.  Simply chop and then drop the clippings around whichever plant you wish to feed.  In a couple years, we will need to split the chives again.

This post is part of my food forest page.

Check out these links for more information about chives and natural pest deterrents.

The 104 Homestead

Permaculture News

Tenth Acre Farm

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