Garlic is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the Allium family. Garlic is a valuable crop that is used as food in the form of bulbs and also for the treatment of various diseases.
Garlic can be grown in a variety of climate zones, but grows best in temperate regions.
1. Variety selection
When choosing a garlic variety, you need to consider the following factors:
- Purpose of cultivation. For food consumption, varieties with large and juicy teeth are selected, and for treatment - with small and sharp teeth.
- Maturing period. Garlic can be early ripening, mid ripening and late ripening. Early-ripening varieties of garlic are ready for harvesting 90-100 days after planting, mid-ripening - after 100-120 days, late-ripening - after 120-140 days.
2. Soil preparation
Garlic is a cold-resistant crop, so it can be planted in the fall when the soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm reaches +5-6 °C.
To plant garlic, you need to prepare fertile, loose and neutral soil. In autumn, the site is dug up to a depth of 25-30 cm and organic fertilizers (manure, compost, humus) are applied at the rate of 5-6 kg per 1 m². In spring, the soil is leveled and furrows 10-12 cm deep are made.
3. Landing
Garlic can be planted in two ways:
- Autumn planting. In autumn, garlic is planted in rows at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. Garlic cloves are planted to a depth of 5-6 cm, placing them with their sharp end up.
- Spring planting. In spring, garlic is planted in rows at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other. Garlic cloves are planted to a depth of 6-8 cm, placing them with their sharp end up.
4. Plant care
Garlic is a moisture-loving crop, so it needs to be watered regularly. Water the plants 2-3 times a week, using 10-15 liters of water per 1 m².
During the period of active plant growth, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out. The first feeding is carried out in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the second - in the flowering phase, the third - in the fruiting phase.
The following fertilizers are used for fertilizing:
- Nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea) - promote the growth of leaves and stems.
- Phosphorus fertilizers (superphosphate, double superphosphate) - promote the development of the root system and flowering.
- Potassium fertilizers (potassium chloride, potassium magnesium) - promote fruit development.
Weeding is carried out to control weeds. To protect plants from pests and diseases, plants are sprayed with special preparations.
5. Harvest
Garlic is ready for harvesting when the leaves turn yellow and fall off. Garlic is harvested in dry weather.
The garlic is dug out of the ground and left in the sun to dry. After drying, the garlic is cleared of soil and the roots are cut off. Store garlic in a cool, dry place.
Some tips for growing garlic
- To obtain an earlier harvest, garlic can be grown as seedlings. Garlic cloves are sown in pots or boxes in late April - early May. Seedlings are planted in open ground in early June, when the threat of frost has passed.
- To increase the yield of garlic, it can be grown on a compost heap. The compost heap warms up faster than the soil, so garlic cloves can be planted as early as early May.
- To protect garlic from pests and diseases, it can be planted next to marigolds, calendula or nasturtium. These plants repel insect pests.