Detailed Explanation of Key Points for High-Yield Cultivation Techniques of Winter Early Garlic in Dali

Garlic (scientific name: ALLiumsativum), also known as suan, belongs to the Liliaceae family and is a fibrous-rooted plant. The leaves are narrow, long and flat, light green, with a waxy coating on the surface. The underground bulb is wrapped in a grayish-white membranous outer skin, containing small bulbs called garlic cloves, which are formed by the enlargement of axillary buds in each leaf axil on the stem plate. Winter early garlic in the Dali region is famous for single-clove garlic, early market availability, and high returns from garlic scapes. It is the leading cash crop planted by local farmers, the main source of rural economic income, and the primary crop of science and technology demonstration households. The garlic cultivation techniques are introduced as follows:

1. Selection and Treatment of Garlic Seed

(1) Seed Selection

After years of experimentation, the most suitable variety for winter early garlic in the Dali region is the "Red Seven Stars" garlic seed from Wenjiang, Sichuan. After cold treatment, it can achieve early maturity and a high single-clove rate as its physiological characteristics.

(2) Garlic Seed Treatment

In strict accordance with technical requirements, "Red Seven Stars" garlic seed from Wenjiang, Sichuan, with moisture content and rot rate not exceeding standards, undergoes low-temperature vernalization treatment in a cold storage at 2-5°C for more than 50 days. This can promote early germination and rapid growth of garlic seed, variation of leaf buds, formation of single-clove garlic, and early maturity.

2. Sowing

(1) Field Selection

Sandy loam and loam soils are best for planting garlic. Fields with sticky soil or clay soil should not be selected. The field should be able to drain during waterlogging and be irrigated during drought, which is beneficial for garlic emergence, root growth, and early rapid development. Low-lying fields with cold waterlogging and standing water should not be selected.

(2) Classification of Garlic Seed

After more than 50 days of cold treatment in cold storage, the garlic seed taken out of storage should not be piled up and covered. It should be spread out in a cool place, separated by clove, graded by size, and sown in separate beds. After separating the cloves, the garlic seed should be soaked in a 500-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim for 12 hours. The garlic seed taken out of storage should preferably be sown within 7 days, otherwise rotting or air-drying will occur.

(3) Sowing Period

In the Dali region, August 25 to September 15 is the optimal sowing period for garlic. If sown too early, excessive growth occurs later, and diseases are also more severe.

(4) Sowing

Before sowing, apply 1500-2000 K of farmyard manure per mu, 5 K of urea per mu, and 10 K of potash fertilizer per mu as base fertilizer. Plant spacing and row spacing of 8 M × 9 M, beds 2 meters wide, hole-punching and spot sowing, sowing 60,000-80,000 plants per mu, covering with soil 2-3 M. Sowing should not be too deep. If too much soil covers the seed, the garlic seed consumes too many nutrients during germination, resulting in weak seedlings, seedling death, and uneven emergence.

3. Field Management

(1) Chemical Weed Control

20-25 days after sowing, spray with 100 grams of chlorotoluron and prometryn mixed with water. The special garlic herbicide from the Dali Prefecture Plant Protection Station can also be used for weed control.

(2) Irrigation

For garlic sown in September, since there is more rainfall, emergence water may not be needed. In dry winters, irrigate once every 20 days. Generally, irrigate once each at the flower bud differentiation stage, garlic scape elongation stage, and garlic bulb enlargement stage to ensure water supply. Excessive soil moisture in the later stage will affect garlic fruit quality. After harvesting garlic scapes, irrigate once thoroughly, and then no more irrigation is needed.

(3) Topdressing

After applying farmyard manure and base fertilizer, the first topdressing is applied at the 3-4 leaf stage as a seedling-promoting fertilizer, broadcasting 150 K of urea per hectare. The second topdressing is applied at the garlic fruit enlargement stage, applying 150 K of urea and 120-150 K of potash fertilizer per hectare.

(4) Pest and Disease Control

The main diseases of garlic are leaf blight, purple blotch, and rust. Adhere to the principle of prevention first and integrated control. During the 3-5 leaf stage, before garlic shows any disease, continuously spray mancozeb 2 times. If disease occurs, use difenoconazole for control. At the 6-8 leaf stage, spray difenoconazole once. Each time disease prevention is carried out, mix with insecticide and spray together to achieve pest control.

4. Harvest

(1) Garlic scapes: When the top of the garlic scape begins to bend and the scape bud begins to turn white, harvest promptly on a sunny afternoon.

(2) Garlic bulbs: 25 days after harvesting garlic scapes, when the plant leaves begin to turn yellow, with 2-3 green leaves at the top, and the pseudostem becomes soft, harvest promptly.