Chive is a member of the Alliaceae or Allium family, consisting of other crops such as garlic, onion, bunching onion and leek. It is extensively distributed among the Allium species. Chives are hardy, drought-tolerant and hardy perennial, and they can grow about 10 to 12 inches tall. Farmers grow it in clumps from underground bulbs and make round, hollow leaves that are much finer than the onion. In mid-summer, they produce pink and round flowers related in appearance to clover. Chives are an onion’s perennial member or garlic family that sport beautiful purple-coloured flowers.
Chives are hardy perennials that are tasty, attractive and simple to grow. It provides 3% of the daily value for both vitamins A and C. Do one tablespoon contain 131 international units (IU) of vitamin A and 1.7 milligrams of vitamin C. What Nutrients Do Chives Need to Grow? Chives are easy to grow, and you can cultivate them in small pots on a sunny windowsill. They grow in well-drained soil with a pH level between 6 and 7. And farmers choose 6 – 8 hours of direct light.
Chives Selections
Common chives have hollow leaves with an onion flavour. The plants grow to be 10 to 12 inches tall. The leaves of chives disappear when they first freeze in the fall and reappear in early spring. Soon after, the plant produces lavender flowers that you can use to make rose-colored vinegar. Choose long-lasting edible flowers that do not engage in form seeds.
Growing Chives
The Chives plant is a hardy that can develop cold winters and withstand dry and wet climates. Chives are a perennial that will grow after cutting. When you grow it, you must need the equipment and a tractor is core among them. Therefore you can choose the Swaraj 963 and many more tractors like powertrac 439 . Chives will develop in early spring, sprouting slightly mauve-coloured flowers. Cut off the entire plant when the flowers begin to fade and before they start to seed. It is easiest to grow chives from potted plants because it is a long process from sowing seed to a usable plant. It’s best to start with two-year-old chives and divide or transplant. The yield will be quite high if the chives are well watered and weeded.
Every 3 years, you should replant the chives by dividing them into small bunches of 5 or 10. Cut them to 5 cm from the bottom when the chives start to rot. They prefer their soil moist, warm, and sunny, although some can tolerate loose shade.
Chives Farming – Soil requirements
Plant in fertile, well-drained soil. Add a bit of organic compost or healthy compost to the soil and avoid over-fertilizing throughout the season to get the best taste.
Chives Cultivation – Liming
Chives grow best at a pH level of 6.0 -7.0. Different soil types have different limiting requirements. You must apply limestone at least 6 weeks before planting for the limestone to be effective. Apply limestone at the recommended rate and work it into the soil to at least 15 cm depth.
Chives Cultivation – Irrigation requirement
You should keep the soil moist. As long as the soil contains the proper drainage, chives produce best when watered frequently. When rainfall is scant, water deeply to ensure the soil doesn’t dry out around the root zone. A light mulch of shredded leaves, grass clippings or compost will assist to retain moisture.
Spacing: Farmers grow the chives to about 12 inches tall and spread to about 12 inches. When planting chives near each other, space the bulbs at least 6 inches apart. Then, every 3 or 4 years, divide the bulbs to continue to grow.
Propagation of Chives
The simplest and most successful means of propagation of chives is to plant rooted bunches in spring after the frost has passed. You should establish the plants that usually need to be divided every three to four years. The division is best accomplished in spring. Replant the new bunches in soil rich in organic matter, such as fine compost.
Planting Chives
You can develop the chives as a perennial or annual—space between plants 10 cm apart in rows 30 cm apart. The production of chives is better if it is cut to 10 cm in summer. Adequate nitrogen is significant, and a preplant composted manure or complete fertiliser is recommended with additional nitrogen applications after the first harvest. You can obtain several cuttings each year, but rust disease can limit the number of cuttings as the season progresses. You can grow the chives as an indoor plant.
Plant the plants in pots filled with potting soil. Water and feed regularly to keep growing. Ensure the plants get plenty of light, especially in the winter months. They do well in cool climates but can survive just about any extreme temperature fluctuations and tolerate partial shade. Plant either seed or division about four to six weeks before your average last frost date.
Equipment Requirement
When you want to get information about chives cultivation, you should also know the equipment that will help to boost the yield. Cultivators, Tillers and tractors are foremost factors in chives farming. However, you can choose the Swaraj 744 tractor and many more.
For more information regarding chives cultivation in India, stay tuned with us.
