Plants grow leggy and thin unless they're cut back several times a year. All herbs grown in shade will grow tall in an attempt to reach for the sun. Pinch the foliage back to keep plants compact and encourage new growth. Always use new leaves for cooking. Older foliage has a bitter flavor and a tough texture.
Chives require frequent cutting to encourage production of new leaves.
Chives may be used in soups and salads, as a garnish and as a seasoning for poultry, fish and pork. Parsley, a biennial herb, requires part shade in hot climates and may be grown in containers or window boxes. Italian flat-leaf parsley has an especially strong flavor. Soak parsley seeds for 24 hours before planting. It prefers a rich soil and can become a pest if unchecked.