[Bluedave]

My chives are starting to flower - usually I just let them get on with it as the flowers are really nice - is it alright to leave them or should I be taking them off?

[DavidT]

You can eat the flowers as well, so it`s up to you. Do you nip them off or leave them on?

[Hey Jude]

I leave mine on as I think they're lovely to look at and great for the insects, and there's always plenty of shoots growing for eating. Jude

[Runwell-Steve]

I leave the flowers on as well, but thats partly as the herbs are in the back garden so they need to look good as well as be practical.

If we had no flowers at all the OH would not be very happy.

[mumofstig]

I leave them...pretties 

[JayG]

I leave the flowers on as I don't like to deprive the bees of their fun!

The plants then look a bit knackered so I cut them down with shears and give them a liquid feed and they start all over again; brilliant! 

[Bluedave]

I was hoping you would all say that, cause the flowers are very 'pretties' as MOS said!

[Trillium]

I do the same as JayeG - I let them flower so the bees can find lots of nectar and when the flowers are 90% finished, I cut off all the flower stalks with shears as I don't want more chives seeding all over the yard, sidewalk cracks, pathways, lawn, compost bins, etc. they'll put out a 2nd smaller flush later, but mostly it keeps the whole plant from growing tall and sagging everywhere (mine are beside a walkway).

[BigPaddy]

The stems of the flowers will go brown and are take time to separate. I have lots of chives. Half I deflower and half I leave. That way the bees and I can have a good time each.

BIG-Paddy

[sunshineband]

They are such good value plants aren't they?

[ex-cavator]

Just curious - if you can eat the flowers as well, how would you use them? 

[Bluedave]

I do the same as JayeG - I let them flower so the bees can find lots of nectar and when the flowers are 90% finished, I cut off all the flower stalks with shears as I don't want more chives seeding all over the yard, sidewalk cracks, pathways, lawn, compost bins, etc. they'll put out a 2nd smaller flush later, but mostly it keeps the whole plant from growing tall and sagging everywhere (mine are beside a walkway).

I'm not fussed if they seed everywhere!

[Potiron]

 you could try this:
 
  Nip off the chive flowers and fill a small jar with them, fill to the top with white wine vinegar, leave for a couple of weeks and voila Chive Vinegar.

[Veggie Virgin]

How to use?  Just scatter them on your salads, if you don't want to make chive vinegar.

[PennyS]

I didn't know you could eat the flowers.  My kids love chives, and they have a real thing about nasturtiums and being able to eat the flowers.  Just wait til I tell them they can eat chive flowers - you guys will have made their day!