Chinese Chives, Garlic Chives
Id-Code: AA 260
Family: Alliaceae, Liliaceae
Origin: Southeast Asia
Special Features: Sturdy, grey-green chives-like leaves and attractive white flowering umbels. Fragrant
Colour: White
Natural Flowering Period: June - September
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z3-10
Growth Habit: Clumping; sturdy upright growth
Foliage: Long and narrow
Height with Flower: 50 cm (20'')
Spacing between Plants: 30 cm (12'')
Soil Requirement: Well-drained soils, pH 5.8 - 7.2
Location: Full sun or partial shade
Use: Attractive foliage and flowers. Seasonal interest in pots or planted in the border with Dianthus amurensis, Echinacea purpurea 'Rubinstern' and Angelica gigas
Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 seeds: 3,226
Seeds per Gram: 310
Seeding Recommendation: 8 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 2-3 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 72, 128
Germination: Rapidly germinating. Keep seed in constant moisture (not wet) with temperatures of about +20°C (68°F). The seeds must be covered thinly. Keep in cooler conditions after germination occurs. The germination might be slow and irregular, but this poses no problem
Scheduling:
Best Sowing Dates: Anytime
Sowing to Germination: 3 - 4 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 8 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 6 - 10 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Not necessary
Growing On:
Container Size(s): 1 plug per 8/9 cm (3 1/2''); 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm (4 1/2'')
Vernalization: A prudent recommendation would be to provide 6-12 weeks at an average daily temperature of 40°F (5°C). Exposure to cold may not be necessary for flowering but might improve quality.
Forcing: There has been no research on ALLIUM tuberosum, but an obvious place to experiment - following vernalization - would be raising daytime temperatures to 60° - 65°F (15° - 17°C). Provide 16 hours of continuous lighting. During the short days of winter, provide a night interruption lighting of 4 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. Some later flowering species can be forced in 14 - 16 weeks and perhaps sooner at warmer temperatures. Further experiments are warranted with ALLIUM tuberosum.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)
