When to sow chives? A detailed guide to the best sowing time
Chives belong to the Liliaceae family and are a perennial root vegetable. They are highly adaptable, cold-tolerant and heat-tolerant, and are cultivated everywhere across China. In many areas of the south they can be produced year-round. In the north, although the above-ground parts die off in winter, the underground parts enter dormancy and can resume sprouting and growth after the topsoil thaws in spring. Let us take a look below at when to sow chives.
When to sow chives?
Chives can be sown at any time from when the soil thaws until the Autumn Equinox, but spring sowing is generally the main season. In the Huang-Huai River basin, chives are sown in spring from early to mid-April; in the south, from December to February; in the north, from May to June. Sowing can begin once the soil temperature is stable above 12°C and the daily average temperature is 15-18°C. Drilling is used, with 6-8 kg of dry seed per mu of seedbed, enough to plant 6000 sq m of field. Immediately after sowing, cover with plastic film to retain and raise heat, and remove the film when 70% of the seedlings have pushed through the soil.
What sowing periods are there for chives?
1. Spring sowing: Spring sowing of chives should be done early rather than late. In spring, sowing can begin once the local soil temperature stabilizes at 5-10°C. At this time the ground has not yet completely thawed through, the surface is fairly moist before the soil thawing period arrives, seedlings emerge very easily, and weed damage is also avoided.
2. Summer sowing: Summer sowing of chives is generally done after cucumbers and tomatoes are cleared from the field. At this time temperatures are high and drought and waterlogging occur easily. The sowing rate should be about one third greater than in spring, the soil cover should not be too thick, and the soil should be kept moist to help achieve full emergence.
3. Autumn sowing: Autumn sowing of chives is generally done around the Start of Autumn. The sowing rate should be twice that of spring. Management should be based on alternating dry and moist conditions, and weed damage should be watched for in the later period, but autumn sowing is generally not recommended.
What growth stages do chives have?
1. Germination stage: For chives, the period from sowing to the unfolding of the first true leaf is the germination stage, generally requiring 10-20 days. During this stage, attention should be paid to sowing quality to create good conditions for germination and emergence.
2. Seedling stage: For chives, the period from the unfolding of the first true leaf to transplanting is the seedling stage, requiring 40-60 days. During this stage the above-ground part grows slowly while the root system grows faster. In production, attention should be paid to weeding and thinning, with appropriate irrigation and topdressing to promote robust seedling growth.
3. Vegetative stage: From transplanting to flower bud differentiation is the peak vegetative growth stage of chives. After a short period of recovery following transplanting, the plants successively produce new roots and grow new leaves, entering the peak growth stage. During this stage, fertilizer and water management should be strengthened.
What conditions are needed to grow chives?
1. Temperature: Chives prefer cool conditions, but they are tolerant of both cold and heat. The optimum temperature for seed germination is above 12°C, the growing temperature is 15-25°C, and the underground parts can withstand relatively low temperatures.
2. Light: Chives have strong shade tolerance. If light is too weak, less photosynthetic product accumulates, tillering is reduced and the plants are thin and weak, yields are low, and premature aging occurs easily. But if light is too strong and the temperature too high, there is more fiber and quality is poor.
3. Water: The suitable relative air humidity for chives is 60-70%, and the soil moisture should be 80-90% of the field maximum water-holding capacity.
4. Soil: Chives are highly adaptable to soil texture. The suitable pH is 5.5-6.5. They have a high fertilizer requirement and strong fertilizer tolerance.