Five Major Steps for Growing Chives: Learn to Grow Chives with Ease

Chives are an ingredient we eat often in our daily lives. When growing chives, there are many things we need to pay attention to. Although chives are very easy to keep alive, if we want to grow them well and suit market demand, we need to cultivate them carefully and also pay attention to method. Below we tell you about how to grow chives.

1. Variety selection

All chive varieties can be grown in pots, but it is best to choose varieties with strong growth vigor, such as 791 chives and Korean chives. They can be grown from seed to raise seedlings, or chive roots can be planted directly.

2. Choosing the pot and potting soil

Clay pots, ceramic pots or plastic pots can all be used, but flower pots with a good appearance, light texture, good drainage and good air permeability are best. When growing on an indoor balcony, the flower pot should have a saucer underneath to prevent water from seeping out and affecting balcony hygiene. The diameter should be more than 20 cm, and the bottom must have drainage holes. Because potted chives have limited container space and their root growth is restricted, the potting soil must contain sufficient fertility to maintain the needs of continuous growth and continuous harvesting of chives. Generally, the ratio of the growing medium is 3 parts decomposed leaves, 2 parts decomposed livestock and poultry manure plus bone meal, and 5 parts high-quality farmland soil, or 5 parts decomposed farmyard manure, 3 parts garden soil and 2 parts sandy soil to make the potting soil. When potting, cover the bottom hole with 1-2 pieces of broken tile, put in a little coarse sand, and fill with nutrient soil on top to 2-3 cm below the pot rim.

3. Sowing and raising seedlings

Seedling management: promote growth in the early stage, then properly control water in the later stage, and carry out seedling hardening to promote rooting. Main measures: first, master watering with “frequent light irrigation”, watering lightly once every 3 to 5 days according to soil moisture; second, weed control, promptly remove weeds in the beds; third, apply appropriate topdressing, and when the seedlings grow to 10 cm tall, apply quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer 1 to 2 times. In order to cultivate chive roots, do not harvest in that year.

For growing chives on a balcony, sowing or planting chive roots can be done in all three seasons of spring, summer and autumn. For sowing, it is best to use new seeds of the current year, and carry out sowing and seedling raising from mid-April to early May. First water the flower pot thoroughly with bottom water, sow after the water seeps down, cover with 1 cm of nutrient soil, and always keep the surface of the potting soil moist without crusting. After seedlings emerge, water appropriately according to the condition of the potting soil. Chive roots are best planted in spring. Due to limited space, the planting density of chives in the pot must not be too high. Water promptly after planting to promote seedling survival.

4. Daily management

After new leaves appear, water promptly to help the seedlings recover according to whether the potting soil is dry or wet, and carry out intertillage on the potting soil to preserve moisture. Keep the soil moist at all times. After the beginning of autumn, the weather gradually becomes cooler, which is suitable for vigorous growth of chives, so fully supply fertilizer and water. Generally water once every 4 to 5 days, and apply topdressing 3 to 4 times. For topdressing, put broken pieces of sesame cake, soybean cake and so on into a sealed container to ferment, take the decomposed upper liquid, add 10 to 15 times clear water and apply it, to promote leaf growth and lay a good foundation for bulb enlargement and root growth. After that, as the temperature continues to drop, the plants grow slowly, so appropriately reduce watering and just keep the potting soil from drying out. In the year of planting, according to growth conditions, harvest appropriately when growth is strong, and generally do not harvest when growth is weak, focusing instead on nourishing the roots. Change the potting soil once every 2 years, preferably during the winter dormant period.

5. Harvesting at the right time

After chives are planted, the yield is relatively low in the first 1 to 2 years, the 3rd to 6th years are the peak growth period with the highest yield, and 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 vigor of the chives, the fertilization conditions and market conditions. The standard for cutting chives is 7 leaves and 1 heart. Harvesting in the early morning is best, and it is appropriate to cut to the yellow leaf sheath 3 to 4 cm above the bulb. Each subsequent cut should be slightly higher than the previous one to ensure normal growth.

The above is how to grow chives that the editor has compiled for everyone. Have you learned it?