Much is known about the benefits of garlic. It is a source of vitamins that strengthen the immune system, destroy microbes and have a positive effect on the state of the whole organism. It is advisable to eat the plant regularly, but measuredly.
Popular throughout the world, the spice is used to prepare hot and cold dishes, snacks, marinades and more. To keep fresh garlic always at hand, most gardeners grow it on their land.
Features
Before growing this plant, you need to know the features of its planting and care. Planting garlic in the spring has its advantages and disadvantages, which tell about the features of this process. Pros:
- teeth planted with the advent of spring will grow in 3-4 months – this time will be enough to form a full-fledged head;
- garlic gains innate resistance to pests and most diseases;
- shoots grow together, since the possibility of frost is minimized, and the soil is already quite warm;
- the harvested crop will be stored for 1 to 2 years at home, while all the taste and useful properties will be completely preserved.
Cons:
- the yield is reduced compared to planting in the autumn;
- the taste of the fruit is not so rich and bright.
Spring planting is suitable for different regions, the main thing is to adhere to the recommended dates and observe agricultural practices. Note: Garlic that was planted in spring is also called summer or spring garlic.
Some gardeners note that winter garlic can be planted with the onset of the warm season, but they rarely do this.
Deadlines
To get the desired result from cultivation, it is necessary to adhere to certain deadlines. Each region has its own, but there are a few general rules. They must be observed regardless of weather conditions. Spring planting is started only after the soil warms up to 4-6 degrees Celsius. In March, the return of winter frosts is possible, so you need to carefully monitor the beds. Some gardeners adhere to the lunar calendar, which indicates the exact dates. At the same time, it is recommended to simultaneously monitor the forecasts of weather forecasters.
The dates given are approximate and should be adjusted if necessary. For example, cold weather may drag on or the rainy season will not allow the site to be prepared properly. Even if the plant is planted on time, the crop may die due to sudden temperature changes or inappropriate weather conditions.
Snow is able to lie on the ground throughout the first month of spring, and in April and even in May (northern regions) snowfalls are possible.
Middle lane and Moscow region
In areas located closer to the north, it is advisable to start work in the period from the second half of April to the beginning of May inclusive. In more southern regions, the climate is milder, so the deadline is shifted from early April to early May.
Leningrad Region
In this region, experts advise starting planting from the last days of April until the end of spring.
Siberia and Ural
Most gardeners choose the period from early days to mid-May, but if the climate allows, you can start work earlier, for example, in April. Before landing, you should familiarize yourself with the weather forecast for the next month or several weeks.
Central Black Earth Region
For this location, the best time is the end of March-the first half of April. By this period, a suitable climate should be established.
Site Selection
Before you start planting, you need to choose a site suitable for growing. For garlic, an area well lit by the sun, without stagnant water, is perfect. Raised beds are ideal. The reaction to acid should be neutral. There are several ways to determine this indicator at home. If garlic grows in acidic soil, the yield will suffer significantly, and the shelf life of the fruit will be reduced.
To lower the pH, dolomite flour and other components are added to the ground. Be sure to pay attention to the predecessors that previously grew in the selected area. The site is suitable if it has previously grown legumes, cereals, cruciferous crops, as well as zucchini, squash and cucumbers. After potatoes or strawberries, you can plant a perennial plant, but at your own peril and risk.
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and various root vegetables (radishes, beets, carrots, etc.) are considered the worst predecessors.
Prepare
Ground
Once the landing site is determined, you need to start preparing the territory. Work begins in the fall. The earth is cleared of vegetable debris, dug up and humus is introduced. If necessary, ash, slaked lime, dolomite flour and other components are mixed into the soil to reduce acidity. It is advisable to plant green manure in the fall, for example, lupins, mustard or rye. These plants will prepare the soil for planting, making it looser, and after they rot, nutrients will enter the soil. 7 days before planting, the beds are treated with a solution of pink manganese. This substance disinfects the earth and is able to exterminate the larvae of harmful insects. First you need to prepare a concentrated dark pink composition, after which 100 milliliters of such a solution is mixed with 10 liters of pure water.
Instead of manganese, a special Fitosporin paste is suitable. Before use, 1 tablespoon of the drug is diluted in 10 liters of water. The resulting solution is enough to irrigate two square meters of land. You can apply the paste after watering with manganese, but you have to wait a couple of days. The composition of “Fitosporin” includes elements that fight fungus and other pathogens. Garlic grows well in breathable and loose soil. To give the earth the desired structure, deoxidized peat, sand or agroperlite is added to it. All weeds on the site are removed immediately so that they do not fill the territory and do not take useful trace elements from the ground.
Planting material
Before you prepare garlic for planting, you need to know the technology of this process. The preparation of the material takes place in several stages. To begin with, the head of garlic is disassembled into individual teeth and peeled from a thin white skin. For planting, it is desirable to choose the largest garlic of the first row. Smaller teeth are grown on greens or simply eaten (used for cooking or snacks). Deformed or damaged planting material is discarded. Pickling garlic is possible, but not necessary, since this plant has almost no pests. To get a rich harvest, you need to take healthy and large teeth.
A presentable appearance indicates a strong immune system. If necessary, garlic is processed to protect against parasites and diseases. For pickling, a saturated saline solution is prepared, to which a little manganese powder is added to obtain a pinkish color. The teeth are immersed in the composition for an hour. You can also plant sprouted garlic. It is suitable for both spring and winter planting. Sprouted tines are selected for quick germination. The teeth are lowered into a special biostimulator and wrapped in cloth. In this state, it is germinated for 10 days.
How to plant?
In open ground or in greenhouses, teeth are planted according to the following schemes (in one or two rows):
- the distance between the grooves should not be less than 15-20 centimeters, and between the teeth – 5-6 centimeters;
- when using large varieties, the gap is made larger, increasing it to 25-30 and 8-10 centimeters, respectively.
If the landing is thickened, it was not possible to grow large heads. The depth of embedding into the ground is 2-3 centimeters (the gap from the top of the clove to the surface of the soil). If you sow the plant deeper, its ripening time will increase markedly. The optimal number of teeth per square meter of land is 40-50 pieces.
Landing step by step guide.
- After the earth is prepared properly, you need to start forming grooves. Sprinkle each hole with a small amount of ash. It will not only nourish the plant, but also protect it from insects and infections.
- Each clove is placed upside down. Then it is sprinkled with earth, which is carefully rammed.
- Immediately after planting, the beds are covered with mulch, using needles, grass or sawdust for this.
Note: for additional feeding, a portion of biohumus is sent to each groove. It is an effective and safe organic fertilizer. You can also make a choice in favor of complex dressings. They will ensure good growth and development.
The specified planting scheme is suitable for growing garlic in the country for personal purposes, and on a commercial scale.
Aftercare
Caring for garlic beds is not difficult, but for a successful result, you should listen to the recommendations of specialists. Agrotechnics include the use of fertilizers, moderate watering, loosening the soil, weeding and the implementation of preventive measures to protect plants. At the first stage of development, there is an active growth of green mass and root system. At this time, it is important to maintain the right level of humidity. The beds are watered once for 5-6 days, using 10 liters of settled water per square meter of land.
Drying of the earth should not be allowed, even a short drought can cause the appearance of single-toothed bulbs. You can determine the lack of water by the first symptoms – the ends of the feathers begin to dry out and turn yellow. When the second half of the growing season comes, they switch to moderate watering, once every 10-14 days, with the same water consumption. During the season of constant rainfall, additional irrigation is not carried out. Stagnation of moisture, which does not have time to be absorbed into the ground, causes the appearance and development of the fungus, and the crop begins to rot. In order not to spoil the garlic, artificial watering is stopped 3-4 weeks before it is harvested.
Feed garlic according to the following scheme.
- To stimulate the growth of the green part of the plant, potash and nitrogen fertilizers are used 2-3 weeks after planting. Urea will be effective (at the rate of a tablespoon of the substance per 10 liters of water), mullein (1: 10) and ammonium nitrate (2 tablespoons per 10 liters). Fertilize the beds with a break of 10-14 days.
- In the process of fruit formation, top dressing is carried out with superphosphate and potassium salt. The proportions are 15-20 grams and 10 grams per square meter. This phase can be determined by the appearance of 4-5 true leaves. A solution based on wood ash is also used. 150 grams of the product is consumed per square meter of land. Re-feeding is performed no earlier than 10 days later.
Fresh manure cannot be used as fertilizer. It negatively affects garlic, making it loose and unstable to disease and fungus. Also, under its influence, the bulbs quickly deteriorate. Before hot weather arrives, plants are watered with a solution of ammonia (proportions – 2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water). This top dressing will not only protect plants from diseases, but also prevent yellowing of the plant mass. Ready-made biological products, such as Alirin B or Gamair TM, will help to effectively deal with the fungus. To direct the forces of the plant to the formation of bulbs, in mid-August, the feathers are folded and tied in a knot.
