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Autumn planting of garlic is very popular in our latitudes, but to achieve a bountiful harvest it is important to follow several basic rules. In addition, we bring you some tried-and-true tips from my grandmother, an experienced gardener, who always advised me on how to grow large and healthy garlic heads.
When is the right time to plant garlic?
In our conditions garlic is usually planted in October. There is a simple rule: the later, the better. Planting too early can cause the garlic to grow too much before winter and then freeze. The ideal time to plant is when temperatures drop below 8 °C.
How deep to plant garlic?
Garlic cloves are placed into the soil to a depth of 7–10 cm, which ensures they survive even winter frosts. Before planting, don’t forget to loosen the soil well and add humus. After planting, press the garlic firmly into the ground.
Where to plant garlic for the best yield?
My grandmother always advised me that to achieve the largest and healthiest garlic heads it is ideal to plant garlic where tomatoes, eggplants, pumpkins, cucumbers, or beans previously grew. These crops enrich the soil with nitrogen, which garlic needs. Nitrogen, especially the natural kind, has a fundamental influence on the size and quality of garlic heads.
On the other hand, never plant garlic in beds where onions or garlic previously grew. These crops deplete nitrogen from the soil, which can lead to a poor harvest. Planting after other root vegetables is also not recommended. If you have no other option and must plant garlic in such a place, grandma advises planting leguminous plants on these spots after harvest, which will enrich the soil with nitrogen again.
Preparing garlic before planting
Before planting it is important to treat the garlic. It is best to use a Sulky-K (5%) solution in which the garlic cloves are soaked for 8–12 hours. This step protects the garlic from pests, fungi and extreme weather fluctuations. After treatment the cloves acquire a bluish-green tint – use 1 liter of treatment solution per 1 kg of garlic.
How to plant garlic correctly?
Always plant garlic cloves with the root end down. If planted the other way around, the quality of the harvest decreases. Individual cloves should be 7–8 cm apart and the distance between rows should be 20 cm.
Protecting garlic over the winter
To ensure a successful winter you can cover garlic with fallen leaves, peat, or humus. If the winter is not extreme, garlic will survive even without a cover.
And what about spring?
In spring, when the first sun rays warm the soil, simply uncover the winter mulch and you will see the first green shoots. That begins the journey to your bountiful garlic harvest!
