Garlic Enthusiasts: Expert Tips for a Bountiful Harvest
Garlic enthusiasts, take note! Horticulturist Mikhail Vorobyev shares expert tips on growing and caring for garlic, ensuring a bountiful harvest. From soil preparation to watering and variety selection, here's how to cultivate garlic like a pro.
Start by enriching your soil with compost, manure, and superphosphate. This will provide the nutrients garlic needs to thrive. When planting, choose a sunny spot without waterlogging. Plant garlic in a 10x20 cm grid, 5-8 cm deep, and mulch the rows. For larger bulbs, opt for winter varieties like 'Lubasha', 'Dobrynya', or 'Germidor'. If storage is your priority, spring varieties like 'Gulliver' or 'Eelenovsky' are smaller but can last up to 1.5 years.
Water garlic 1-2 times a week during growth. For winter varieties, plant them in October before the first frost. Remove scapes from winter garlic to focus the plant's energy on bulb formation. Fertilize with nitrogen in early spring and potassium during bulb formation. Stop watering garlic a month before harvest to allow the bulbs to cure.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to a successful garlic harvest. Whether you prefer larger bulbs or longer storage, these tips will help you grow garlic that's both abundant and delicious. Happy planting!
