"Since the scent is actually the thing keeping away the bugs here, it's best that you don't trim the chives too often. Chapman said that doing so will only lessen their insect-repellant effect. Additionally, you might want to let some of the chives flower. Besides attracting beneficial pollinators that naturally control aphids like lacewings and ladybugs, chive blossoms are a type of edible flower that can be harvested should you ever want to experiment with adding them to your recipes."
""The strong sulfurous compounds in chive leaves and flowers produce a scent that many insects, including aphids, dislike. When planted strategically, chives can act as a mild natural repellent, discouraging aphids from settling on nearby plants like tomatoes, lettuce, or peppers," said Chapman. So what counts as being "strategic" with chives? Chapman told Tasting Table that you should, "Interplant chives among susceptible crops rather than keeping them in a single patch. The more evenly the scent is distributed, the better the protective effect.""
Chives emit strong sulfurous compounds from their leaves and flowers that produce a scent many insects, including aphids, dislike. Planting chives among vulnerable vegetables can act as a mild natural repellent and discourage aphids from settling on tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, and other nearby plants. Distribute chives throughout the garden rather than concentrating them in one patch; one plant every few meters provides deterrent effect. Frequent trimming reduces the scent and lessens insect-repellant properties. Allowing chives to flower attracts beneficial predators such as lacewings and ladybugs, and the blossoms are edible for culinary use.
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