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Importance of crop rotation -
Can you plant garlic after potatoes?
The beneficial properties of garlic have been known since ancient times, so many summer residents grow it on their plots. To get a consistently high yield, you need to know some of the subtleties of planting. For example, it is necessary to follow the rules of crop rotation.
Importance of crop rotation
People who have at least minimal experience in farming have noticed that when sowing a particular crop in the same place, the yield decreases, and the plants become stunted and often get sick even under other favorable conditions. This can also happen after changing crops in the beds.
For example, you will not be pleased with the cabbage grown in the garden after the beets. This is how crop rotation violations manifest themselves.
The need for the correct alternation of crops is scientifically substantiated. The fact is that plants of the same family are affected by common diseases, they are attacked by the same pests. In addition, related plants take the same nutrients from the soil, as a result of which the soil is depleted. And since different crops require different macro- and microelements, with proper planting planning, unpleasant consequences can be avoided.
Can you plant garlic after potatoes?
To figure out whether it is possible to plant garlic after potatoes, you need to take into account a few details.
- The probability of being affected by the same diseases and pests. From this point of view, potatoes cannot be a good precursor of garlic, since the risk of Fusarium infection is significant. And also there is a risk of defeat by a nematode.
- Soil fertility. Both potatoes and garlic require potassium, so the soil will be depleted for garlic.
- The depth of the root systems. Garlic has a short root system, it is located quite close to the surface of the earth. This means that a nutritious topsoil is required. Potato tubers are located below.
It should also be noted that garlic is spring and winter. Varieties differ in terms of planting. Spring should be planted in the spring, for which the beds usually begin to prepare the previous autumn. When using the site immediately after the potatoes, the gardener has the opportunity to make the necessary preparations: dig up the ground, apply suitable fertilizers and disinfectants.
Sowing of the winter variety usually takes place in October or November, depending on the climatic conditions of the region. Since summer cottages are not always large, summer residents often use beds that have been freed from other crops. Potato is one of the favorite and therefore common vegetables. It often begins to be dug up already in the middle of summer, especially early varieties.
Potatoes are not considered a good precursor for garlic before winter, but even in this case, the summer resident has the opportunity to prepare the land.
If there is 1-2 months left before planting garlic, it will be advisable to sow green manure with a short vegetation cycle. Suitable use of clover, forage grasses, lupine and mustard. Such actions will be useful for improving soil structure, reducing the number of weeds, and will help replenish nutrient reserves in the soil. Mustard has especially beneficial properties. The essential oils that it secretes will repel pests, inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Not the best choice as green manure would be rye and barley. They are prone to drying out the earth, which is not very favorable for moisture-loving winter garlic.
