Can chives be sown in October?

Leek is one of the foods that have been identified by the Ministry of Health as having both medicinal and edible properties, and has a high economic value. Moreover, it is easy to plant and has strong adaptability, so it is favored by many growers. So can chives be sown in October? Let’s learn more about it below.

Can chives be sown in October?

Chives can be sown in October. Chives are generally planted in spring, autumn and winter. The suitable planting time in autumn is generally from September to October. At this time, the temperature is moderate, neither too hot nor too cold, which is conducive to the germination and growth of leeks.

How to plant chives in October?

1. Soil preparation

Chives prefer loose, fertile, well-drained soil. Before sowing, the land needs to be deeply plowed, weeds and stones removed, and an appropriate amount of base fertilizer applied. Generally, depending on the soil fertility, 3000-5000 kg of decomposed manure can be applied per mu as base fertilizer to provide sufficient nutrients for the growth of leeks.

2. Seed treatment

First, place the seeds in the sun to dry for 1 to 2 days, then soak them in warm water at about 40°C for 12-24 hours to allow the seeds to fully absorb water and expand. After soaking, take out and drain the water, wrap them in a wet cloth and place them in an environment of 20-25℃ to germinate. When 50%-60% of the seeds are white, they can be sown.

3. Sowing method

There are two main methods of sowing: broadcast sowing and row sowing. Broadcasting is to spread the seeds evenly on the prepared land, and then lightly cover and compact the soil; row sowing is to dig furrows according to a certain row spacing (the row spacing is generally 15-20 cm), spread the seeds evenly in the furrows, and then cover and compact the soil.

4. Field management

(1) Watering: After planting, keep the soil moist, but not too wet to avoid seed or root rot. Water every 4-5 days, or as needed depending on weather conditions. On rainy days, drainage measures should be taken to avoid water accumulation.

(2) Fertilization: After seedlings emerge, apply fertilizer every four days. When the leeks have sprouted, apply seedling fertilizer according to the growth of the leeks and soil nutrients. The seedling fertilizer can be human feces or compound fertilizer . Note that the human feces must be diluted before use.

(3) Weeding: Remove weeds and dead leaves promptly to reduce the overwintering sites for pests and diseases and keep the farmland clean and beautiful.

5. Other management

Leek is a perennial root vegetable and harvesting of leeks should be stopped during the rooting period. After stopping harvesting, the chives grow fast and are prone to lodging. After storage in the field, diseases and leaf rot often occur. Therefore, it is necessary to support the leek bed on both sides and pull wire inside the bed to prevent the leeks from lodging.

Generally speaking, leeks can be sown in October. However, in the specific planting process, you need to pay attention to mastering the correct planting method in order to grow healthy and abundant leeks.