Shallots, also known as green onions, are among the most widely used spice vegetables in households around the world. At Maqiao Horticultural Field, hydroponic systems have been employed since 1995 to grow chives successfully for two consecutive years, yielding excellent results. Now, we're sharing the detailed hydroponic techniques used for cultivating chives.
First, there are two main methods for sowing shallots: soil sowing and seedling cultivation. Since the root system of shallots is underdeveloped and their leaf area is small, they grow slowly, which means the seedlings take longer to mature. Therefore, soil-based seedling cultivation is preferred to produce strong, healthy plants. The ideal time for spring sowing is between early January and late April, while autumn sowing should start from early July to late October.
In soilless cultivation, chives are grown using hydroponics. The planting season in spring runs from early April to late May, and in autumn, it's from late August to early December. The best growth period occurs from April to May in spring and mid-September to early November in autumn.
For planting, when the seedlings have 2 to 3 leaves, reach a height of 10 to 12 cm, and are 35 to 45 days old, they can be transplanted. One day before transplanting, the seedbeds are thoroughly watered to wash away excess soil from the roots, minimizing root damage. Hydroponics at Maqiao uses Deep Flow Technique (DFT). Each growing channel is 28–30 meters long, 1 meter wide, and about 10 cm deep. A layer of polystyrene (EPS) board, 1.25 cm thick, is placed at the bottom, covered with black film to prevent nutrient solution leakage. The nutrient solution depth is maintained at 6–8 cm, and then covered with an EPS lid measuring 1.5 m by 1.0 m and 2.5 cm thick. These lids can be punctured for planting rows. The recommended planting density is 8 cm² per plant, with each planting hole having a diameter of 2.6 cm. A small plastic cup, 2.5 cm in diameter and 4 cm in height, is placed in each hole, with three onion shoots planted per row. In a 40,000 square meter greenhouse, approximately 40,000 planting holes are set up, allowing for the planting of about 120,000 seedlings. After planting, the roots of the chives are submerged in the nutrient solution.
Nutrient solution management is crucial for successful hydroponic growth. A 540-square-meter greenhouse is equipped with a 0.4 kW pump to circulate the solution. The nutrient solution is supplied twice daily, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, each session lasting 1 to 2 hours. For the first 1 to 2 days after planting, only clean water is used without any fertilizer. On the third day, the nutrient solution is introduced, with one unit of fertilizer mixed into 4 tons of water. The EC value of the solution is kept between 0.9–1.0 mS/cm, and the pH level is maintained at 6.0–6.5. To help the plants adapt quickly, a shade net may be used for 1–2 days during bright sunny periods after planting, and removed in the evening. Six to seven days later, the nutrient concentration is increased by adding two units of fertilizer, raising the EC value to 1.4–1.5 mS/cm, while keeping the pH at 6.0–6.5. The nutrient solution temperature should be controlled between 15–20°C. Greenhouse temperatures can be adjusted using vents, doors, and side windows. During the day, the temperature should not exceed 30°C, and at night, it should stay between 13–15°C. Chives grown hydroponically are generally free from pests and diseases, so no pesticides are needed.
Harvesting typically begins 50–60 days after planting. Spring hydroponic chives can be harvested from June to July, while autumn crops can be harvested from mid-September until February. When the plants reach a height of 30–40 cm and the stem diameter is 0.3–0.5 cm, they are ready for harvest. A 540-square-meter greenhouse can yield around 500 kg, up to 800 kg, of high-quality chives with sufficient water content and vibrant green color. If grown continuously throughout the year in a greenhouse, chives can be harvested 2–3 times in spring and 4–5 times in autumn, resulting in an annual output of 2000–2500 kg per 540 square meters. This translates to an income of approximately 6000–7000 yuan annually, making hydroponic chive farming both efficient and profitable.
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