How to plant garlic: how do you grow it at home and in the open field?

Garlic is a strongly flavored seasoning; especially when added to dishes, it really boosts the aroma, and it is deeply loved by everyone. Eating garlic also has certain benefits for the human body. In some places it is eaten raw, but the smell is rather strong and hard for most people to accept. Garlic refers to the root of the garlic plant, and the garlic leaves that sprout from it are also edible. Today let us take a look at how to plant garlic at home and in the open field respectively?

I. How to grow garlic at home

1. Prepare the pot and soil

Prepare a flower pot about 20cm deep; you can choose a clay pot material, as this is more favorable for garlic growth. The soil for planting garlic generally needs to be fairly fertile, loose and well aerated, as this is more favorable for the growth and development of the garlic. In addition, base fertilizer must be added to the soil to meet its growth needs.

2. Prepare the garlic seeds

We should choose unbroken, non-rotting, healthy and intact garlic bulbs as seeds, then separate them clove by clove. You do not have to remove the outer skin, then put them in water to soak for about 3-4 hours.

3. Sow the garlic bulbs

Plant the soaked garlic bulbs in the pot soil with the bottom facing down, keeping a certain spacing, otherwise their growth will be affected. Then cover the garlic with a thin layer of soil; it must not be too thick. Then water thoroughly; generally they will sprout in 3-5 days.

II. How to grow garlic in the open field

1. Choose the garlic seeds

Seed selection is a key factor in a high garlic yield. Generally, you should choose garlic bulbs with strong disease resistance, intact skin, a relatively large size and no rot as seeds. Then when separating them clove by clove, screen them once more, in case there are still moldy, sprouted, or internally damaged garlic seeds. After everything is done, spread them in the sun for about 2 days. The main purpose is to disinfect them and reduce the occurrence of diseases.

2. Choose the correct sowing time

Besides choosing excellent garlic seeds, the sowing time is also very critical. If sown too early, the seedlings will grow too vigorously before overwintering and also consume too many nutrients, so overwintering will present certain difficulties. If sown too late, the garlic growth period will be shortened, resulting in too-small garlic sprouts, fragile roots, low stress resistance, low yield and poor market quality. The specific sowing time should be determined according to the region, because the geographical environment and climate type of each place differ somewhat. Generally, in North China the sowing time is around September-October, that is, the period from the end of White Dew to the beginning of Autumn Equinox. At this time the temperature is not very low, basically remaining around 15-18°C. In Northeast China, the spring sowing time for garlic is generally around April. In the western region, the garlic sowing time is generally concentrated in spring March-April and autumn around October. The southwest region chooses autumn sowing, around August-September.

3. Daily management

Weeding: after emergence and before sprouting, carry out closed herbicide treatment.

Water and fertilizer: garlic watering should be determined by stage. Generally, water once each at the seedling stage, before overwintering, at the greening stage and at the garlic bolt differentiation stage. Usually pay attention to watering lightly; do not irrigate too much at one time.

Pest control: garlic pests and diseases should be prevented and treated promptly. Once pest or disease infestation appears, use the right remedy for the problem.