Intercropping garlic under walnut trees yields good economic returns

To develop understory economy, Moyu County began trial demonstrations of garlic in 2006, growing from just a few mu at first to more than 100 mu at present, with stable year-round planting on more than 200 mu. The planting areas are mainly distributed in Qiapakmaili Village of the county, becoming one of the village's specialty crops.

Garlic is planted once and harvested three times, giving good economic returns. From early September to mid-October of the previous year, it is planted with plastic film mulching, with about 60,000 plants per mu. From March to early April of the following year, following the principle of harvesting one plant for every one skipped according to plant spacing, garlic sprouts are picked for the market. In late April, garlic scapes are harvested, and from late May to early June, garlic bulbs are harvested. At the same time, after the locally grown garlic is harvested in late May, crops such as corn and Chinese cabbage can be replanted. Corn helps fill the gap in forage for animal husbandry, and Chinese cabbage can serve as winter vegetables to supply the local market.