Planting Chadon Beni and Chives

      Planting Chadon Beni and Chives

How to Grow Chadon Beni and Chives (and Bring Your Meals Alive)

Hello Frugal Farmers! To write this article I realized that I had little knowledge of planting and harvesting chadon beni and chives. Hence, just like for our dissertation where we review subsequent literature to gain authoritative command and knowledge of a particular topic or area of research, I had to do the same. Fittingly there was no where else but the seasoning capital of Trinidad and Tobago I could get that knowledge, so yes... I went to PARAMIN!!!!!!! Here are some of the pictures of the flora and fauna and awesomeness of Paramin. 

Shadow beni is a leafy herb native to the West Indies and Central America. It is widely used in the cuisine of these regions, and it also appears in Asian foods. This herb can sometimes be difficult to obtain outside these regions; sometimes specialty stores will stock it frozen or in cans. If shadow beni is not available, cilantro can be used as a replacement.

Chives are mostly used as garnishments in most countries, but in Trinidad we use it heavily for seasoning our foods. Like the herb’s close cousins onions and garlic, chives offer a number of health benefits — fighting free radicals, lowering blood pressure, aiding digestion, and more.And since chives are so versatile, it’s easy (and delicious!) to work them into your culinary creations. Chives also naturally repel many garden pests while attracting allies, such as bees and predatory insects. Given all these facts, it’s no surprise that chives are among the world’s most popular herbs, right?

These herbs are perfect to plant in your frugal containers, buckets, PVC pipes etc. 

Planting Chadon Beni

Chadon Beni grows best in an area with moist, well-drained soil; it is also moderately salt tolerant. Contrary to most herbs and vegetables, Chadon Beni does best in a shady area. Shade also aides in keeping your plant from bolting, that is, producing its cream-colored flowers and going to seed. Once a herb has gone to seed, it becomes undesirable as a culinary plant.

You can grow Chadon Beni in a container or planted directly into the ground. Planting directly in your garden can potentially provide you with a longer harvest period. Chadon Beni is usually planted from seed; it takes about three weeks for seeds to germinate. Beyond providing you with a flavorful herb, Chadon Beni may even attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs and green lacewings. Big bonus!

You can harvest leaves for use at any time. Many people prefer to harvest Chadon Beni by removing the oldest leaves, which are closest to the base of the plant, and leave the younger leaves to mature. Keep in mind that Chadon Beni leaves do not store well, so it's best to harvest only what you need. When planting and if using the base of the plant, remove the flower stalk and 2/3 of each leaf from the plant before planting.

Planting Chives

If using off shoots as planting material, trim roots to 2.5 cm (1 in) before planting. Also the top must be removed to about 2.5 cm (1 in) above where the last blade separates from the base of the plant. Transplant late in the afternoon and water plants.

Chives will grow virtually year-round. (They also make perfect indoor crops!) Temperatures above 80˚F will cause chives to flower, whereas those under 50˚F will slow plant growth.Once chives are established, they require minimal care. The most challenging part of growing the herb, in fact, is starting it from seed. 

Note: Like most plants in the onion family, chive seeds have a short shelf life. If none of your seeds germinate, and they’re older than one or two years, you may need to buy fresh seeds.You can harvest chives once they’re about six inches tall. When harvesting, keep the following tips in mind:

• With clean scissors, cut the outermost leaves about two inches above the base of the plant.
• Always leave about half the plant intact so that it can regenerate. This will allow you to make several consecutive harvests.
• Harvest often to encourage new growth and discourage flowering (which will end the growing cycle).

Guys! If you'd like to visit Paramin..click the image to book your safe tour with Tours to Paramin.

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