How to grow garlic chives from seed? A detailed guide to the latest sowing method
The seeds and leaves of garlic chives can be used as medicine. Because of their special effect of tonifying the kidneys, strengthening yang and consolidating essence, they are also called "yang-raising grass". Because of their strong vitality, they keep growing back after every harvest, so they are also called "lazy person's vegetable" and "long-life chives". They originated in China and gradually spread to all parts of the world, entering the international market. Now let us take a look at how to grow garlic chives from seed!
Sowing time
Garlic chives can be sown at any time from after the soil thaws to the Autumn Equinox, generally with spring sowing as the main season. In the Huang-Huai River basin, spring sowing of garlic chives is from early April to mid-April; in the south, it is from December to February; in the north, it is from May to June. Sowing can begin when the soil temperature is stable above 12°C and the average daily temperature is 15-18°C. Drill sowing is used, with 6-8 kg of dry seed per mu of seedbed, enough to plant 6000 sq m of vegetable land. Immediately after sowing, cover with plastic film to preserve and raise temperature, and remove the film when 70% of the seedlings have emerged through the soil.
Seedbed preparation
The garlic chive seedling bed should be convenient for irrigation and drainage, and should be sandy loam or clay loam where onion and garlic vegetables have not been grown in the past 1-2 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 4-5 cubic meters of decomposed farmyard manure per mu. To prevent chive maggots, 5% phoxim granules can be used per mu in kg, plus 10-15 kg of dry fine soil, evenly broadcast, then shallow plowed and finely harrowed, leveled and made into beds. The beds should be 1.2-1.5 m wide and 7-10 m long for easy management.
Seed treatment
For garlic chives, use new seed. If the early spring temperature is too low, dry seed sowing can be used. To seize moisture and promote emergence, seeds can be soaked and pregerminated. Before seed treatment, sun the seeds for 1-2 days. One to two days before sowing, put the selected seeds into 40°C warm water, stir vigorously, remove and rub clean, then change to 30°C warm water and soak for 8-10 hours. Place under 18-20°C conditions to pregerminate, rinsing with clean water twice a day, and sow immediately when 60% of the radicles have emerged.
Seedling stage management
When garlic chive seedlings are about 5 cm tall, give a light watering and loosen the soil in time. After they reach 10 cm, decomposed manure or urea can be applied 2-3 times along with watering, and trichlorfon crystals can be applied with the water at 0.5-1 kg per mu to kill chive maggots and other pests. After seedlings reach 15 cm, control irrigation to prevent excessive growth and lodging. Weeds should be removed promptly. When seedlings are about 12 cm tall, use 0.5-0.75 kg of 25% nitrofen per mu for control, or before emergence after sowing, spray the soil surface with 0.15 kg of 33% pendimethalin emulsifiable concentrate per mu.
Reasonable planting out
For planting out garlic chives, choose a plot with fertile soil and convenient irrigation and drainage, apply 4-5 cubic meters of decomposed farmyard manure per mu, and level and make beds. The beds should be 2-3 m wide, with every 3 beds as one group, and a 1 m wide cold-protection strip set on the north side. Transplant from late June to early July. Before planting out, cut off the tips of the fibrous roots and sort into small bundles even with the bulbs. Plant in holes on flat beds, with row spacing of 13-20 cm and hole spacing of 10-15 cm, with 6-8 plants per hole being suitable. When planting, it is best not to bury the leaf sheath. After planting, firm the soil and water promptly.