Chives

CROP INFORMATION:

Crop Name: Chives

Scientific Name: Allium fistulosum

Family Name: Allium

Cultivar Groups: bulbing onion, shallot, bunching onion

Warm season or cool season: Cool season

Space between plants/between rows: 2” to 3” between plants, 4” between rows

Fertility Requirements: Maintain soil pH between 6.5 to 6.8

Less N fertilizer will be needed if manure or legume sod was used.

Watering Needs: Depends on environment. Evenly moist, water when topsoil is dry.

Number of days from seed to transplant and/or seed to harvest: 10 to 12 weeks to transplant, and 10 to 12 weeks to harvest.

Planting Instructions:

Potential Pests: Cutworms, onion thrips

Insect Pests Controls: cultural control, biocontrol

Plant Pathogens: White rot, botrytis, leaf blight, downy mildew, purple blotch

When Ready to Harvest: Can be harvest any time when reach pencil-size. Maintain at 39 degree Fahrenheit within 4 to 6 hours of harvest.

How to Harvest: Pull out carefully by hand or cut near the base with a cutting tool.

Optimal Time of Day to Harvest: In the morning or evening with cool temperatures.

Best Method to Cool Crop: Room cooling, hydrocooling.

Optimal Storage Temperature and Relative Humidity: 32F, 98%RH

Possible Storage Life: Can be stored 7 to 10 days at 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Common Post-Harvest Losses/Problems: Rot, molding from washing water. Wilt and decay if they aren’t cool to 32F after harvest.

Average Yields: Good average yield – 18,000 lb per acre

Year	Crop	Variety	Date Planted	Date Harvested	Days to Harvest	Total Yield (lbs)	Yield (lbs/sq. ft)
2017	Chives	Flat Garlic	N/A	3/17/2017	N/A	N/A	N/A