Spring management of garlic after overgrowth must start early

For garlic sown in autumn 2006, temperatures from planting through early December remained higher than in previous years, which accelerated the growth of the garlic sprouts. Before winter, the garlic grew to 7-10 leaves (the optimal seedling age for overwintering is 5-7 leaves), showing overgrowth, and had already begun "mother bulb rot," with pest problems occurring. As a result of overly rapid growth, the garlic suffered from poor nutrient accumulation, reduced stress resistance, slow greening after the New Year, severe disease, and reduced high-yield potential. In spring, garlic must complete a series of growth processes including greening, vigorous seedling growth, garlic scape elongation, and bulb enlargement. On the basis of applying sufficient base fertilizer, garlic still needs topdressing in spring, with the topdressing amount controlled at 12.5 kg of pure nitrogen and 5 kg of potassium. Fertilization should grasp that the vigorous nutrient growth period (early to mid-April) is the period of maximum nitrogen fertilizer efficiency, and the bulb enlargement period (from Grain Rain to Start of Summer) is the period of maximum potassium fertilizer efficiency. Therefore, this spring garlic management must start early, and in view of the existing problems, carry out good high-yield supporting technical management to ensure a high-yield and abundant harvest of garlic.

Skillful application of greening fertilizer: After the garlic turns green, 15-20 kg of 40% nitrogen-sulfur fertilizer or 10-15 kg of urea can be broadcast per mu during rainy or snowy weather. This compensates for the shortage of soil nutrients caused by excessive consumption from overgrowth before the New Year, improves the fertilizer supply capacity, and meets the nutrient needs of garlic during greening.

Heavy application of seedling-promoting fertilizer: In early April (around Qingming Festival), apply 30-40 kg of 40% nitrogen-sulfur fertilizer per mu or 15-20 kg of urea plus 10-20 kg of Dingtai brand organic fertilizer (protease flushing type). This can be done by combining broadcasting and flushing application. Applying heavy fertilizer mainly of nitrogen and sulfur at this stage, together with warm-natured fertilizer that can increase the supply of biologically active nitrogen in the soil, improves the soil's fertilizer supply and accelerates the enhancement of root fertilizer absorption capacity, meeting the nutrient needs of vigorous garlic growth.

Apply bulb enlargement fertilizer well: When the garlic scape shows its tassel (mostly around Grain Rain, no later than the end of April), apply 15-20 kg of high-nitrogen high-potassium flushing fertilizer per mu with irrigation to accelerate bulb enlargement. Afterward, according to weather conditions, only irrigate and no longer apply fertilizer to the soil surface.

Application of high-yield supporting enlargement agent: Spray the garlic enlargement agent 3 times throughout the entire growth period. Respectively in mid-March, mid-April and the end of April, combined with pesticide spraying. This increases garlic bulb weight by 200-300 kg per mu.

Strengthen pest and disease control: Garlic pests mainly include root maggots, and diseases include leaf blight, white rot, soft rot and viral diseases. During the adult occurrence period of root maggots, spray Qimanting or pyrethroid pesticides for control; for larvae, apply phoxim and others with irrigation for control. The specific control agent for garlic leaf blight and white rot is Baifujing, which can be applied as required. Iprodione and others can also be used for control. For garlic soft rot, Bingjuntingmie plus Xinzhiromycin can be used for control.

Timely harvest: When the garlic scape bends like a dog's hook and the flower bud clearly enlarges, changing color from yellow to white, it should be harvested promptly with a sharp knife. 15-18 days after harvesting the garlic scapes is the appropriate time to harvest the garlic bulbs.