Spread compost about an inch deep on onion beds and spray liquid seaweed approximately every week or so during the growing season. When the weather warms up and the bulbs begin to swell, apply straw mulch to control weeds and maintain even soil moisture. Shallots and Chives Shallots have a mild, onionlike flavor and are prized by chefs the world over. Prepare a spot in the sun, and work the soil deeply to accommodate the long feeder roots put down by shallots. Shallots do not need fertilizer, and if placed in the ground by mid-February or March, they should be ready to harvest by midsummer.
Chives are slow to start from seed, so it's best to buy transplants.
They will tolerate some shade, but they prefer full sun. Chives thrive on neglect. They don't need fertilizer, they tolerate drought, and they rarely suffer from pest or disease problems. They do, however, have a tendency to get overcrowded, so dig and divide them every three or four years. To do this, stab a shovel in the ground a few inches from the base of each plant, and lift the whole plant out of the ground.