When is the latest planting time for Chinese chives?

The leaves, flower stalks and flowers of Chinese chives are all eaten as vegetables, while the seeds and other parts can be used as medicine, having effects such as tonifying the kidneys, strengthening the stomach, refreshing the mind, and stopping sweating and astringing; Chinese chives has strong adaptability, is cold-resistant and heat-tolerant, and is cultivated everywhere across the country. Below, let us take a look at the planting time and planting conditions for Chinese chives!

Planting time for Chinese chives

The sowing time for Chinese chives can be divided into three types: spring sowing, summer sowing and autumn sowing:

1. Spring sowing: better early than late; in spring, once the local soil temperature stabilizes at 5-10°C, sowing can be done. At this time the ground has not yet completely thawed through, the surface is relatively moist before the soil thawing period arrives, and seedlings emerge very easily. This sowing method also avoids weed damage, because after sowing the Chinese chive seedlings emerge relatively quickly, while the temperature at that time is not yet suitable for weed germination, forming a time difference. Therefore, everyone is recommended to use this sowing method as much as possible.

2. Summer sowing: generally done after cucumbers and tomatoes are cleared from the garden. At this time the temperature is high and drought and waterlogging are likely to occur. The sowing rate should be about one third greater than in spring, the soil covering should not be too thick, and the soil should be kept moist to help full seedling emergence.

3. Autumn sowing: generally done around the Start of Autumn. The sowing rate should be twice that of spring, and management should mainly follow the principle of seeing dry and seeing wet. In the later period, attention should be paid to weed damage. Autumn sowing is generally not advocated.

Planting conditions for Chinese chives

Chinese chives belongs to the Liliaceae family and is a perennial root vegetable with strong adaptability, cold resistance and heat tolerance, and is cultivated everywhere in China. Many areas in the south can produce it year-round, while in the north, although the aboveground part dies in winter and the underground part enters dormancy, it sprouts and grows after the surface soil thaws in spring.

1. Temperature: Chinese chives likes cool conditions, is tolerant of both cold and heat, the suitable temperature for seed germination is above 12°C, the growth temperature is 15°C to 25°C, and the underground part can withstand relatively low temperatures.

2. Light: moderate light intensity, with strong shade tolerance. However, if the light is too weak, photosynthetic products accumulate little, tillering is few and thin and weak, yield is low, and premature aging occurs easily; if the light is too strong and the temperature too high, there is a lot of fiber and the quality is poor.

3. Moisture: the suitable relative air humidity is 60-70%, and the soil moisture is 80-90% of the maximum field water-holding capacity.

4. Soil: Chinese chives has strong adaptability to soil texture, and the suitable pH is 5.5-6.5. It has a large fertilizer requirement and strong fertilizer tolerance.

Classification of Chinese chive varieties

China has very abundant Chinese chive variety resources. According to the edible part, they can be divided into four types: root Chinese chives, leaf Chinese chives, flower Chinese chives, and leaf-and-flower dual-purpose Chinese chives.

1. Root Chinese chives: root Chinese chives are mainly distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Tibet and other places in China, and are also known as pie chives, broad-leaf chives, large-leaf chives, mountain chives, chicken-foot chives, etc. Mainly the roots and flower stalks are eaten. The root system is thick and strong, fleshy, with a pungent aroma, and can be processed by pickling or boiled for eating. The flower stalks are plump and tender and can be stir-fried, and the tender leaves can also be eaten. Root Chinese chives is mainly propagated asexually, has strong tillering ability, vigorous growth, and is easy to cultivate. Harvesting and digging are mainly done in autumn.

2. Leaf Chinese chives: the leaves of leaf Chinese chives are broad and thick, soft and tender, with a low bolting rate. Although it can also bolt for food during the reproductive growth stage, it is mainly the leaves and leaf sheaths that are eaten. It is commonly cultivated in all parts of China. This type is mainly used for blanching cultivation.

3. Flower Chinese chives: flower Chinese chives is specially grown to harvest the flower stalk part of Chinese chives for food. Its leaves are short and small, coarse and hard in texture, with strong tillering ability and a high bolting rate. The flower stalks are tall and thick, crisp and tender in quality, shaped like garlic stalks, and especially beautiful in flavor. It is cultivated relatively more in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province and Taiwan, China. There is also scattered introduction and cultivation in Shandong and other places. Flower Chinese chives has many varieties, such as the small-leaf type: strong bolting and tillering, narrow and short leaves, relatively dark color, thin leaf sheaths with a slightly green color, leaves and leaf sheaths relatively hard, early maturing, dual-purpose for leaves and flowers, medium quality; Nianhua Chinese chives: especially strong bolting, long and large flower stems, medium-wide and long leaves, dark green color, large leaf sheaths, slightly yellow-red in color. The leaves and leaf sheaths are relatively hard, the bolting period is long, and it can bolt throughout the year; the leaf part is not suitable for eating, and it is mainly grown for stalks; Nianhua No. 2: thick and large flower stems, excellent quality, tolerant of low temperatures.

4. Leaf-and-flower dual-purpose Chinese chives: the leaves and flower stalks of leaf-and-flower dual-purpose Chinese chives develop well and both can be eaten. At present, most of the Chinese chive varieties cultivated in China are of this type. This type can also be used for blanching cultivation.