In our country, garlic is used in food with almost no residue: its young leaves are used in the preparation of many dishes or simply served as a side dish; the cloves are used both for preservation and for fresh consumption, and the arrows are pickled. But just not everyone can grow a rich crop of this plant. And all due to the fact that few people know how to plant garlic for the winter correctly.
The basic rules of winter sowing
Experienced gardeners say that late varieties of garlic are best suited for winter sowing . It is in them that the largest number of trace elements is stored, which means that the new head will grow strong and healthy. It is necessary to choose the largest and undamaged teeth.
Now about when to plant garlic. It is quite clear that winter sowing is carried out in autumn, but in which month it depends on the specific area of residence. After all, somewhere in winter comes in November, and somewhere in severe frost and snow should not be expected before January. In any case, the planting of garlic in the winter should not be carried out before mid-September and later than the first decade of December. But when to plant garlic in the fall, you should decide on your own, taking into account the weather conditions in the region of your residence.
Another important point is the additional disinfection of seed. Experienced gardeners strongly recommend that three days before the garlic is planted, it must be additionally treated.
The selected teeth are placed in a concentrated solution of manganese and left in it for 30 minutes. Then they are removed and allowed to dry well. Landing can be done after 72 hours. The distance between the teeth is about 4-6 cm, and between the rows is not more than 10 cm, but also not less than 4 cm.
It must be remembered that if you want to get a truly rich harvest, then you should use only that seed material that is ideal for your climate.
Soil preparation rules
So, if we figured out directly how to plant garlic for the winter, now we need to talk about how to properly prepare the soil for planting it. First of all, it should be remembered that for two consecutive years this plant can not be planted in the same place. This is due to the fact that garlic becomes more vulnerable to pests and diseases. And also in the earth there is no longer enough of the necessary nutrients.
Secondly, you should choose a place to land in at least de weeks. The earth needs to be dug up and fertilized ideally with organic matter. But here you should be careful and not overdo it with top dressing.
But, speaking about how to plant garlic for the winter, one can not help but say in what soil it is better not to plant it at all. It will not be possible to get a good crop if the sowing was done in clay or loamy soil. It is too heavy and does not contain the necessary minerals.
Winter Garlic Care Basics
But it’s not enough to know how to plant garlic for the winter. You must also have reliable information about the rules for caring for him. By and large, everything is simple here. After the emergence of stable seedlings, beds should be weeded. As for watering, before the arrows appear, it should be daily and plentiful. Only in this case, you can count on getting large and healthy heads of garlic. Additionally, this plant does not need to be fed, but only if the soil was fertilized before planting.
Despite the fact that planting garlic in the winter at first glance seems difficult, in fact this is far from the case. Following all of the above tips, you can easily grow this plant in your area.