Key Technical Points for Early Spring Management of Greenhouse Chives

1. Temperature management. Chives prefer cool conditions, with an optimum growing temperature of 15-24°C, and ventilation should be provided appropriately during the day. To promote sprouting, after the shed is covered the daytime room temperature should be kept at 18-25°C; after sprouting, the daytime room temperature should be controlled at 17-23°C. Before the first cutting of chives is harvested, the daytime temperature should be 15-22°C and the nighttime temperature 10-12°C. After that, with each subsequent cutting the temperature may be raised by 2-3°C, but must not exceed 30°C.

2. Fertilizer and water management. Chives growth requires relatively low air humidity and relatively high soil moisture. The greenhouse air humidity should be kept at 60-70%, and the absolute soil water content should be kept at 13-15%. Generally, heavy clay soil that was watered with winter water before the shed was covered does not need further watering. To promote the growth of the next cutting of chives, 5-7 days before harvesting the first cutting, a small watering may be given, and 15-20 kg of ammonium nitrate per 667 sq m (mu) dissolved in water may be applied along with the irrigation water; thereafter, 5-7 days before each cutting of chives is harvested, watering and fertilizer application should be carried out.

3. Foliar fertilization. During the growing period, spray monopotassium phosphate once every 7 days at a concentration of 300 times dilution; gibberellin may also be used at a concentration of about 40,000 times dilution. When the plants grow to 15 cm, spray it, using 1 gram per 667 sq m, adding 50 kg of water, and adding 0.5% ammonium nitrate gives an even better effect. 4. Harvesting. The harvesting period is generally before New Year's Day or the Spring Festival, and a yellow cut surface is more suitable, with an interval of about 35 days between two cuttings of chives.