Chive Herbal Vinegar
2009 May 11
My mother always plants chive plants with her roses. “They keep away the aphids and prevent black spot,” she always tells me. It seems to be true because I have never seen a single aphid or black spot on any of her roses.
Chives are also good for making chive vinegar. For the vinegar you need: about 20 chive blossoms, white wine (or champagne) vinegar and a bottle to keep it in.
Place the chive blossoms in the bottle (the blossoms do not need to be packed tightly).
Add enough vinegar to cover the chives.
Cover and let it steep in a dark cupboard for about a week. The blossoms will tint the vinegar pink and leave you with a STRONG chive vinegar.
Strain out the blossoms, add a little of the vinegar to olive oil and you will have a tasty dressing for your salads. (This could also be another PTOE activity for sulphur). You can use many different kinds of herbs to make herbal vinegars, a rosemary vinegar would be yummy or a basil and chive vinegar. Try different herbs and steep them together to create interesting blends, don’t be afraid to experiment. Enjoy!
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I’m just getting into companion planting so love the tip about chives and roses. We have loads of wild garlic on our land which is a little stronger than chive but not as strong as ‘proper’ garlic so I might try this with wild garlic blossoms
Yum. I’m making many kinds of vinegar this year – this one is on my list!
I didn’t know that about chives and roses. What a great tip..thank you.
Your little helpers are adorable and seem to be very focused!
Forget to mention, stir fried chives and eggs are one of my favorite dishes. I eat the chives and the kids have the scrambled eggs and a little chives.
Chives and roses are the ONLY things I can grow outdoors. I think it’s because they are so low maintenance (at least ours are). I’ll have to try this!
I love chives and have bunch of new sprouts on our windowsill ready to go outside this week. and homemade flavored vinegars are so good. Makes me want a nice green salad with some splashed on top, yum.
The color of those chive blossoms is making me smile…. they are really beautiful.
Another fine and useful project!
I’m just excited about winning the battle over my rose bushes… and really excited about the vinegar.
Do you just sow seeds around the bases of the plants?
We have Japanese beetle issues some years too. The only solution we’ve found is the pheromone bags. What other kinds of vinegar have you used, Lisa? This is fascinating. I have lots of rosemary growing so maybe I’ll start with that.
Jessica, Oh yes, those darn Japanese Beetles……
I plant chives next to our roses for the same reason. We have no aphids. However…the Japanese Beetles devour every last rosebud EVERY single year. Drat!
Aren’t chive flowers lovely? They are so delicate.
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i didn’t know the chives flowers are so pretty. lovely!
i must stop eating mine to let them flower but they are so yummy and I put them in just about every dish. That settles it, I shall buy more to grow and try this:)
Dreamwriter, sure you could do this with any edible plant. Rosemary would be good too.
I love companion planting! And what a great use for chive blossoms
Yum! Pretty, too.
Wow! I love this idea! I am going to have to try it. Can you do it with any flower or plant?