{"product_id":"semences-ciboulette-ail-biologiques","title":"Garlic Chives","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAllium tuberosum.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Asian cousin of common chives, and one of the most essential aromatic herbs in all of Far Eastern cuisine. Native to the steppes of northern China, Mongolia and Siberia, garlic chives have been cultivated for at least 3,000 years — already mentioned in the \u003cem\u003eShijing\u003c\/em\u003e, the Book of Odes, one of the oldest Chinese classics, compiled between the 11th and 7th century BCE. Botanically it is an entirely distinct species from common chives: same genus, but different species — hence important differences in appearance, flavour and use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree essential distinctions: the leaves are flat like blades of grass (not round and hollow like a tube), the flavour is distinctly garlicky (not oniony), and the flowers are white and star-shaped (not pink-purple pompoms). Three plants, three personalities within the same great Alliaceae family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA perennial forming a dense clump 30-40 cm tall, with flat thin bright-green leaves 4-6 mm wide, supple and tender in texture. In late summer (August-September), long flower stalks rise above the foliage, bearing umbels of small white star-shaped flowers, lightly scented and particularly attractive to bees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFlavour: delicate garlic with a green-onion note and a slight herbaceous touch, much milder than raw garlic from a bulb, with a longer aromatic presence in the mouth. A thousand essential uses in Asian cooking: chopped leaves cooked as a filling in Chinese or Japanese steamed dumplings; wok-stirred with scrambled eggs; folded generously into Korean \u003cem\u003ebuchujeon\u003c\/em\u003e pancakes; fermented into garlic-chive kimchi (\u003cem\u003ebuchu kimchi\u003c\/em\u003e); as a finishing garnish on a bowl of Vietnamese pho; or simply quick-sautéed in sesame oil with garlic and soy sauce as a Korean \u003cem\u003ebanchan\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote: the unopened flower buds are also delicious, sautéed like the leaves. And after flowering, the seeds can be used as a spice (concentrated garlic flavour).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrower's tip:\u003c\/strong\u003e A particularly hardy perennial in Québec (zones 3 to 9), establishing itself for decades once settled in. Start indoors 8-10 weeks before transplanting in mid-May; seeds germinate slowly (14-21 days) and initial growth is slow. Patience required: in the first year you harvest little, in the second the clump thickens, and from the third year on you have abundant production. Cut leaves 5 cm above the ground as needed throughout the season — the plant regrows quickly. Important quirk: garlic chives self-seed generously and can become invasive in the garden; to prevent this, cut the flowers before seed formation (or harvest the flowers before they seed — they're edible separately). A renowned companion plant in the vegetable garden: effectively repels carrot fly, aphids, and certain soil nematodes, making it an excellent neighbour for carrots, tomatoes and roses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen-pollinated. Hardy perennial, zone 3. Insect-pollinated; does NOT cross with common chives (different species). Self-seeds generously.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight: 30-40 cm (foliage), 50-60 cm with flower stalks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlowering: August to September.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExposure: full sun; part shade tolerated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWell-drained, moderately rich soil. Very low requirements.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStart indoors 8-10 weeks before transplanting in mid-May, or direct-sow early May in Québec. Cut flowers before they seed to prevent spread.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Joual Vert","offers":[{"title":"200","offer_id":42588397011116,"sku":"GC-O-CHIGAR-200","price":0.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000","offer_id":42588397043884,"sku":"GC-O-CHIGAR-1K","price":3.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5000","offer_id":42588397076652,"sku":"GC-O-CHIGAR-5K","price":12.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25000","offer_id":43038297850028,"sku":"GC-O-CHIGAR-25K","price":36.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0532\/1388\/8684\/products\/polyvitchives_db9110b5-4259-4c98-b01f-baa577de4c0a.jpg?v=1698701356","url":"https:\/\/joualvert.ca\/en\/products\/garlic-chives-seeds","provider":"Joual Vert","version":"1.0","type":"link"}