Garlic Chives - Why won't they grow?

[Macro]

I cook a lot of asian dishes when I have time off of school and I've noticed that a lot of them call for Garlic Chives.

For whatever reason, we don't have garlic chives out here (I've looked everywhere). So instead I've decided to grow my own.

I started out by planting 6 bunches of them, 10 seeds per pot, in well drained potting soil. I water them every day or every other day depending on how wet the soil is. For now they are inside the house, sitting on my window sill, which is located on the sunny side of the house.

Problem is... they've reached about 5-6 inches and just stopped growing. They're not dying or anything... they just aren't getting any bigger... or flowering. They've been in their pots since early to mid July. Not sure what to do to get them to start growing well again.

Hopefully somewhere here can give me some incite!

Thanks!

 

[Judy]

Maybe they would do better planted outdoors in the ground. I've grown them for years. They grow about 2' high, flower annually, and multiply the way a bulb does, and spread. They've survived droughts and heavy rains alike; I never watered them except when transplanting -- which I did by cutting the clump with a shovel.

 

[mickey328]

I agree...mine planted indoors did just the same as yours...the regular chives are huge but the garlic chives are only about 5 to 6 inches and really thin. The ones growing outside do much better. They may just be one of those plants that don't do well in a pot.

 

[Macro]

Awesome! Thanks for the tips! I'll try and find a spot for them in the garden today!

 

[smilingcat]

Garlic and such need phosphate in form of bone meal. BUT!!! If your property used to be a dairy farm, then DON'T add any bone meal.

I'm not sure if garlic has hours of daylight requirement like onion. So do check on it. They are referred as day-neutral (don't care) to short-day or long-day plants.

If its anything like garlic, then it needs to be planted now till the freeze then wait for next June/July to harvest.

REMEMBER: FEED THE SOIL!! to feed the plant. Plants need good nutrition too.

 

[DianaMallory]

Bigger pot and feed them!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I've had garlic chives in my garden for about 15 years. The same bunch, which I originally planted as an ornamental. They keep spreading, keep coming back and, if you don't watch out, can become a nuisance.

Yes, plant them outside!