What is the simplest way to grow Chinese chives?
Chinese chives are a perennial root vegetable of the genus Allium in the Liliaceae family, native to southeastern Asia, and cultivated everywhere across our country. They are highly adaptable, cold-resistant and heat-tolerant, and can be produced year-round in many parts of the south. In the north, although the aboveground parts die in winter and the underground parts enter dormancy, growth can resume after the surface soil thaws in spring. Below is an introduction to growing knowledge: the simplest way to grow Chinese chives!
1. Land preparation and fertilization
The seedling bed for Chinese chives should be easy to drain and irrigate, and should be sandy loam or clay loam where no allium vegetables have been grown in the past 1 to 2 years. Deep plow before winter, water to freeze, and in the following spring harrow and plow while the soil is still frozen to preserve moisture. Apply 4 to 5 cubic meters of decomposed farmyard manure per mu. To prevent onion maggots, 5% phoxim granules can be used per mu in kilograms, plus 10 to 15 kg of dry fine soil, spread evenly, then shallow plowed and finely harrowed, leveled and made into beds 1.2 to 1.5 m wide and 7 to 10 m long for easy management.
2. Sowing seedlings at the right time
Chinese chive seedlings grow slowly, so sowing should be done early at the right time, preferably from late March to late April. After soaking the seeds to promote germination, broadcast them in the seedling bed using the wet sowing method, covering the soil in two passes: first a thin layer of soil, then another layer after it becomes damp. The total soil cover should be 2 cm thick. Use 6 to 8 kg of seed per mu. After covering with soil, spread a layer of plastic film to help raise temperature and preserve moisture, and remove the film after the seedlings emerge. Generally, 1 mu of seedlings can plant 7 to 9 mu of vegetable field.
3. Seedbed management
When Chinese chive seedlings are about 5 cm tall, give a light watering and loosen the soil promptly. After they reach 10 cm, decomposed manure or urea can be applied along with watering 2 to 3 times, and 0.5 to 1 kg per mu of crystalline trichlorfon can be flushed with the water to kill onion maggots and other pests. After the seedlings reach 15 cm, control irrigation to prevent excessive growth and lodging. Weeds should be pulled promptly. When the seedlings are about 12 cm tall, use 0.5 to 0.75 kg per mu of 25% nitrofen for control, or after sowing and before emergence, spray the soil surface with 0.15 kg per mu of 33% pendimethalin emulsifiable concentrate.
4. Reasonable planting out
For planting out Chinese chives, choose a plot with fertile soil that is convenient for drainage and irrigation, apply 4 to 5 cubic meters of decomposed farmyard manure per mu, level it and make beds 2 to 3 m wide, with every 3 beds as a group and a 1 m wide cold-protection strip on the north side. Transplant from late June to early July. Before planting out, cut off the tips of the fibrous roots, sort them into small bundles even with the bulbs, and plant them in holes in flat beds with a row spacing of 13 to 20 cm and a hole spacing of 10 to 15 cm, with 6 to 8 plants per hole being suitable. When planting, do not bury the leaf sheaths. After planting, firm the soil and water promptly.
5. Field management
After new leaves emerge, Chinese chives should be watered to help the seedlings recover, and the soil should be cultivated to preserve moisture, keeping the soil alternately dry and moist. After autumn begins, Chinese chives are in their most vigorous growth period, so fertilizer and water should be supplied fully. As temperatures gradually drop afterward, plant growth slows, and it is enough to keep the soil surface from drying out. Chinese chives need moderate light intensity and have strong shade tolerance, but if the light is too weak, photosynthetic products accumulate less, tillering is reduced and thin, yields are low, and premature aging is easy. If the light is too strong and the temperature too high, there is more fiber and the quality is poor.
6. Harvesting at the right time
In the first 1 to 2 years after planting out, Chinese chive yields are relatively low; years 3 to 6 are the peak growth period with the highest yields; after 10 years they enter the aging stage and should be divided and transplanted promptly. The number of harvests each year depends on the growth of the Chinese chives, the fertilization conditions and the market. The standard for cutting chives is 7 leaves and 1 heart, and harvesting in the early morning is best. It is suitable to cut down to 3 to 4 cm above the bulb at the yellow leaf sheath. After that, each cut should be slightly higher than the previous one to ensure normal growth.
The above is Tuliu.com's introduction to the simplest way to grow Chinese chives. Growing and managing Chinese chives is simple, so farmer friends may as well give it a try!