Pastas, risottos, quiche, pie, soups and more - there aren't many dishes chives won't add a tasty flavour to. They're a staple herb every cook should have in their vege or kitchen garden.

And, unlike many annual herbs, they're the plant that keeps on giving. Chives will go dormant and die down during winter and then pop up again come spring - meaning no need to replant each year.

Already got chives in your garden? How about trying garlic chives - also known as Chinese chives. They have slightly broader, flatter leaves than regular chives and - as you would expect from the name - have a soft garlic flavour.

To plant this grass look alike find a corner or spot of soil that you don't usually garden in. Because your chives will go dormant it's a good idea to plant them somewhere that you won't accidentally replant over while they're not visible. If you're worried about forgetting where you've planted chives, simply install a marker or grow them in a pot.

Once you've picked up a couple of Awapuni Nurseries chives seedlings from your local supermarket, The Warehouse, Bunnings or from our online store, just dig a little hole and plant. As the come up they will grow together in a clump.

Once the chives have reached about the same height as a drinking straw, you can start chopping the ends off with scissors and add to pretty much any savoury dish.