Garlic Planting Time and Method: Autumn Sowing in the South, Spring Sowing in the North
Before planting garlic, it is best to choose high-quality garlic seeds with a high survival rate, then activate the garlic seeds before planting. Before planting, first turn the soil and expose it to the sun, and apply an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer in the bottom pit. When planting, the garlic must not directly touch the fertilizer, with the garlic tip facing up, and only cover its bottom. Generally, garlic planting is close to winter and needs insulation and cold protection. When the temperature is below 10°C, a thermal insulation layer needs to be covered. Later, reasonable water and fertilizer are all that is needed.
1. Seed selection
Experienced farmers generally have their own unique way of selecting seeds, and seed selection before planting is very important. The lines on garlic bulbs of better varieties are relatively natural and smooth, while poor-quality ones are the opposite. Early-maturing ones are small-clove garlic, and those that grow large garlic bulbs are large-clove garlic. Garlic seeds with evenly sized cloves are very good varieties, and garlic seeds with relatively plump tips have high survival and quality rates, while shriveled garlic seeds are certainly not good.
2. Planting time
The planting time of garlic varies to a certain extent according to the region and the garlic variety. Garlic can generally be divided into spring sowing and autumn sowing. In our country, 35-38 degrees north latitude is generally the dividing point between autumn sowing and spring sowing of garlic. In places south of 35 degrees, the winter temperature is relatively warm, and garlic seedlings can generally survive the winter safely, so autumn sowing is generally the main method, and they can be harvested when summer just begins the following year. In areas north of 3 degrees north latitude, the winters are relatively cold, and garlic seedlings find it very difficult to survive the winter safely, so autumn sowing cannot be chosen, as this makes them very prone to frost damage. Therefore, early spring sowing is generally chosen, and they can be harvested in midsummer or late summer. If the area is between 35-38 degrees north latitude, then either spring sowing or autumn sowing can be chosen.
3. Sowing and land preparation
After choosing good garlic seeds, they need to be treated before planting, which can improve their survival rate. First activate the garlic seeds. In order to let them absorb sufficient sunlight and be thoroughly activated, they can be sun-dried for about one day in mild sunlight. Note that sun-drying them in scorching sunlight will kill them. Before planting, first turn the soil and expose it to the sun for sterilization, and apply an appropriate amount of chemical fertilizer and organic fertilizer at the bottom of the pit or nearby. Note that the garlic seeds must not directly touch the fertilizer. Plant them with the garlic tip facing up, and covering their bottom with soil is enough. They must not be completely covered, as this will affect their survival rate.
4. Reasonable water and fertilizer
After planting, reasonable water and fertilizer are essential and can increase yield. For dry field planting, water once a week when dry, and control the watering time according to soil moisture, keeping the soil at a certain level of moisture. For paddy field planting, generally no watering is needed, and thoroughly loosening the soil in the early stage is enough. Garlic needs a small amount of topdressing when it bolts and divides cloves. If the land is poor, multiple topdressings are needed.
5. Winter cold protection
The time for planting garlic is always close to winter, and the temperature is relatively low, so timely cold protection is needed. A temperature above 15°C is most suitable for the growth of garlic seeds. When the temperature is below 10°C, a layer of insulation material needs to be covered over the garlic seeds, generally mainly rice straw-type materials, and plastic covering can be chosen second.