What should I do about my chive and thyme plants that are flowering?
Question:I am not sure whether I should let them go or cut them back. If I let them go, will the plants die back?
Answers:
If you leave the flowers on the chives and thyme, then eventually they will produce seed. If you want to propogate the plants naturally, then do this. If you wan the plants to keep growing, and get "bushier", cut the flowers off. I usually let a couple flower and produce seed, and clip the rest. Then in the early fall I will let them all flower, and let the seeds drop naturally. That way, after the winter, the seeds will sprout on their own and I won't have to replant chives and thyme.
Definetely you can cut them...well trim them at least. Just cut about half of the plant. Most herbs are tender perennials - meaning there is no guarantee they will come back.
You need to cut the flowers off. That will allow the plants to put their energy into more foliage and bush out more.
Cut off the flowers if you want the chives to grow strong and bushy, and be useful for cooking.
They won't die, but it's always pretty to see the flowers - perhaps consider putting in more so you can rotate them for use and for flowering.
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