I'm growing Chives in my garden, and need a little help.
By irishmist
@irishmist (3814)
United States
July 29, 2007 6:35pm CST
It is great to go out to the garden and pick fresh chives right before dinner. Also to know they are there when you want the. I would like to know if anyone knows how to keep them fresh indoors after picking them. Also does anyone know the process for drying them out, so I can jar them? Chives are one of my favorite herbs.
2 people like this
3 responses
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
30 Jul 07
I would think you could just bring a clump in and keep them growing in a small pot on your kitchen window sill. That would seem to be the best solution. You could also keep them fresh by storing them whole in the freezer and chop a few as needed, or, I should say, snip them off with a scissors. That works better if they are going in soup or a casserole, though, as they will not have the same texture as fresh.
Drying them is easy, but they do lose a lot of their flavor when dried. Unless you live in a very humid climate, you can just spread them out single layer on a a tray and leave them outdoors (covered with a net of some kind to keep the bugs out!). They need to be well ventilated and kept out of direct sunlight and should dry in a day, which is convenient because they don't want to be left out in the night air.
As pointed out in the following article, proper storage of the dried herbs is the important thing:
http://www.superbherbs.net/har8.htm
Enjoy!
@peavey (16936)
• United States
30 Jul 07
You told her everything I was thinking. The only thing I would add is that you can dry them indoors if you have a warm place to put them where there is good air circulation. The top of a refrigerator or water heater will work. It takes a little longer indoors, but they will dry like that.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
30 Jul 07
Glad to hear I was on target on this. I do have a nice dehydrator which works well, but here in the desert it is often just as easy to dry them outdoors. On a humid day, however, they can also go on a cookie sheet in an oven after it has mostly cooled--not in a hot oven! That also an easy way to keep them clean while drying, but not so convenient if you need to use the oven.
1 person likes this
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
30 Jul 07
I would love to grow chives on my window sill,but my cats would eat them :(. Thanks for all the great info. I can't wait to check out the site! I would also like to start doing other herbs as well.
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
30 Jul 07
I'm a huge Chives lover too and though I;ve never tried drying them (oddly enough because I dry out my other Herbs) I do keep a bunch in a tupperware container of water in the fridge...I'll have to try the freezing thing though, never thought of that one :-0
1 person likes this

@irishmist (3814)
• United States
30 Jul 07
I will try putting them in some water on Friday. I need them for work on Saturday. I am a cook in a retirement home, and want to add some fresh herbs to my mashed potaoes.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
30 Jul 07
That container of water in the fridge idea is great! What an excellent suggestion. That would probably work with other herbs, too.
I also love chives, but am curious to know what other herbs you have tried drying and if you have any special tips regarding any of them. Do you also dry orange or lemon peels and how and with what result?
1 person likes this

@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
10 Sep 07
chives are very easy to grow! They are like weeds. we have regular and garlic chives. they grow wild in the flowerbed. WE use them all summer. In the winter you can pot a bunch and bring them in. they will grow happily all winter with a little Lovin care.I like chives too.





