How to grow garlic for high yield? Key points of high-yield cultivation techniques in Midu County

I. Variety selection

The garlic bolt-type varieties suitable for cultivation in Midu County are mainly Han garlic, Hongqixing, Wen'erzao, Erjizao, and Chi garlic, with a seeding rate of 120-150 kg per mu.

II. Field selection

Select fields for garlic that are on high ground, have high fertility, deep soil layers, and are convenient for irrigation and drainage.

III. Field preparation

First deep-plow the soil, sun-dry the field, make furrows and level the land, requiring level fields, fine soil, and deep furrows.

IV. Timely sowing

Sow garlic at the right time to promote early emergence and rapid growth, early bolt formation, and high economic returns. However, garlic sown too early out of season is more susceptible to leaf blight and the plants decline prematurely; sowing too late results in weak seedlings, delayed bolt formation, and low yield.

The suitable sowing period in Midu County is from September 25 to October 15. Cooler areas may sow appropriately earlier, while warmer areas may appropriately delay.

V. Fertility management

Garlic has a shallow root distribution, weak regeneration ability, and is neither drought-tolerant nor waterlogging-tolerant. Therefore, according to each growth stage of garlic, soil moisture conditions, and rainfall, irrigate at the right time and in the right amount. After sowing, water thoroughly 1-2 times to ensure uniform seedling emergence. After uniform emergence, during the mother-root degeneration stage, control the field soil water-holding capacity, and drain promptly after heavy rain. The entire growth period of garlic generally requires 6-8 irrigations, and fertilization is carried out in combination with irrigation.

Garlic has a large population and a long growth period, and requires a relatively large amount of fertilizer. Generally, apply 3000-4000 kg of decomposed high-quality barnyard manure per mu. Especially for continuous cropping fields, increase the application of organic fertilizer. For base fertilizer, generally apply 50 kg of high-efficiency compound fertilizer (N:P:K=15:15:15), 5 kg of borax, and 2 kg of zinc sulfate per mu, applying chemical fertilizer and barnyard manure at one time; after the mother-root degeneration stage (4-6 leaf stage) and during the bulb differentiation stage (9-11 leaves), apply 30-40 kg of high-efficiency compound fertilizer, 10 kg of urea, and 25 kg of potassium sulfate per mu respectively.

VI. Control of diseases, insects, and weeds

After sowing, water thoroughly. When the field moisture has drained, use 45 g of diuron per mu diluted in 45 kg of water for uniform spray weeding. It can also be sprayed before the three-leaf stage when garlic seedlings have emerged uniformly, so as to achieve weed control at the seedling stage.

The main diseases of garlic include leaf blight, purple blotch, gray mold, rust, and white rot, etc. The main insect pests include onion root-mining moth, thrips, and leafminer, etc.

For disease prevention, fungicides can be selected such as 10% Score wettable powder at 1500 times dilution, 25% Sportak emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution, or 25% Junwei emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution, or 25% difenoconazole at 2000 times dilution, as well as DuPont Curzate, carbendazim, mancozeb, dimethomorph, prochloraz, and other pesticides applied according to usage requirements, once every 7-10 days, with pesticides used alternately.

For insecticides, use 5% emamectin benzoate at 100 mL per mu, or choose pesticides such as imidacloprid, cyromazine, abamectin, black light lamps, or pyrethroids for control.

VII. Timely harvest

Harvest garlic bolts promptly when the tail of the bolt just curves into a hook. About 15 days after the garlic bolt harvest is completed, harvest the garlic bulbs. After grading and bundling the bulbs, dry them in the shade for storage.