Garlic is a staple spice in kitchens worldwide. It is liked by all for its distinctive flavor and many health benefits. Its scientific name is Allium sativum. It is used in cooking to enhance the taste of food. In ancient times, garlic was used as a medicine in Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Chinese civilizations. However, if you wish, you can enjoy fresh garlic by growing garlic at home. Today, in this article, I will share with you all the tips for growing garlic. So, if you decide to grow garlic in the ground of your garden or pots, read the article carefully from first to last for a good harvest. First, let's know when to plant garlic and then how to grow garlic.
When to plant garlic
Cold weather is necessary for growing
garlic. Mainly, garlic cloves are sown in late autumn or early winter.
The cloves require a temperature of 0 to 10 C to germinate properly. Nowadays,
it is possible to grow garlic in summer or spring. Actually, the best time to
grow garlic is November and April.
How to grow garlic
Choosing the Right Garlic Variety
There are two varieties of garlic now.
They are- hardneck variety and softneck variety.
- Hardneck variety: Hardneck variety
is edible. It is also called scape. And, it is used in salads and fries. If you
want to collect both scape and bulb, you can choose this variety. Some
hard-neck varieties of garlic include Elephant Garlic, Carcassonne Wight and
Red Duke.
- Softneck variety: Softneck variety
does not produce stems. However, this variety of garlic can be stored for a
long time. Some of the notable softneck varieties of garlic are Wit
Cristo, Picardy Wit and Jarnidor.
From these two varieties, you will choose
one.
How to Grow Garlic in the Ground
Preparing Your Garden for Garlic
Garlic grows well in well-drained and
nutrient-rich soil. Now let’s take a look at how to prepare your garden bed:
Soil Preparation
- Choose the Right Place: Choose a sunny
spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
- Test Your Soil: Get a soil test
to check the pH level. Garlic grows well in a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.
- Make the Soil fertile: Add compost or
well-rotted organic manure to the soil to increase soil fertility and drainage.
Planting Garlic Cloves
Once your soil is ready, you can plant
garlic cloves in that soil. Now learn how to plant garlic cloves.
- Select Healthy Bulbs: Select healthy
bulbs for planting and discard the unhealthy bulbs.
- Separate the Cloves: Gently separate
the bulbs into individual cloves.
- Planting depth and spacing: Plant the cloves
2 inches deep. Keep the ends facing up. Space each row 12 inches apart and 6
inches apart.
How to grow garlic in pots
To grow garlic indoors, you have to choose
soil and pots first. The pots can be buckets, gunny bags, half drums, or other
containers. Actually, large pots should be chosen for growing garlic indoors.
After choosing the pots, you have to choose and prepare soil. Then you have to
fill the pots with soil and make a drainage system in the pots
properly.
Choosing Soil
Garlic is grown well in fertile loamy
soil. It can also be grown in clay soil. However, in this case, the pots'
drainage system should be done so that water does not accumulate in the pots.
Otherwise, the color of garlic becomes bad.
Preparing Soil
As loamy soil is necessary for growing
garlic, you have to make loamy soil. But how will you prepare loamy soil? In
this case, you will take 50% garden soil, 30% compost manure or cow dung and
20% white sand. Mix these elements to make loamy soil. Finally, fill the pots
with this soil. Your pots are ready for planting garlic cloves.
Planting garlic cloves in pots
Break the dried garlic and carefully
separate the cloves. Then sow the garlic cloves in rows at a distance of 15 cm,
10 cm apart and 3-4 cm deep in the pots.
Read more:
Caring for Your Garlic Plants
After planting garlic, you need to take
care of it properly. You can get good yields if you take care of garlic
properly. Now see how to take care of garlic.
Watering
- Frequency: Water your garlic
once a week. Make sure that the soil is moist. But don’t overwater.
- Signs of Water Requirement: If your garlic
leaves turn yellow, you think that it needs water.
Fertilizing
- When to Fertilize: Apply a balanced
fertilizer in early spring for good growth.
- Organic Options: You can use
compost tea or fish emulsion for a nutrient boost.
Managing Pests and Diseases
Although garlic is relatively
pest-resistant, you should be careful of your problems. Now see what you need
to do.
Common Pests
- Garlic Maggots: Look for white
larvae in the soil. You can prevent garlic maggots by rotating crops annually.
- Aphids: Use insecticidal
soap or neem oil if you see aphids in garlic.
Diseases
- Rust: Use a fungicide
if you see orange spots on the leaves of garlic.
- White Rot: Prevent this
white rot by planting disease-free bulbs and rotating crops.
Harvesting Garlic
You should know when to harvest your
garlic for the best flavor and storage. Now learn when and how to harvest
garlic.
- Best Time to Harvest Garlic: Late spring or
early summer is the best time to harvest garlic when its leaves turn yellow and
dry.
- Garlic Harvesting Technique: Carefully lift
the bulbs with a garden fork. Then shake off the soil from the roots.
- Curing: Hang the garlic
in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area for 2-3 weeks to cure.
Storing Garlic
You should dry garlic in a shady place for
5-6 days after harvesting. This is called garlic curing. Then, the amount (4-5
kg) of dried garlic plant should be made into beni and hung in a ventilated
room. One bush should be spaced away from the other so that air can
circulate. You also can store garlic in bags and bamboo racks, scaffolding and
jute sacks after cutting the leaves and roots. Before storing the seeds in this
way, thick, healthy, vigorous, disease-free garlic should be chosen.
What are the health benefits of garlic?
Garlic contains energy, sugars, fiber,
protein, thiamine - vitamin B1, riboflavin - vitamin B2, niacin - vitamin B3,
pantothenic acid - vitamin B5, vitamin B6, folate - vitamin B9, vitamin C,
Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc, Selenium etc.
Garlic is beneficial for men. It boosts
immunity, keeps the heart healthy, controls high blood pressure, lowers cholesterol,
controls diabetes, prevents cancer, reduces excess weight, keeps the lungs
healthy, strengthens bones, enhances sexual energy, increases digestion,
prevents any infection, detoxifies the blood, controls rheumatism, relieves
bruising pain, reduces toothache, cures tuberculosis, cures acne, reduces
stress, cures frequent colds and coughs, meets the need of the body for amino
acids. In a word, garlic acts as a natural antibiotic for men.
FAQ:
Q-1: When is the best time to plant garlic?
A: The best time to
plant garlic is in the autumn about 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes.
Q-2: Can I grow garlic in containers?
A: Yes! Use a
container that is at least 12 inches deep with good drainage.
Q-3: How to store garlic?
A: Store cured
garlic in a cool, dark and dry place. It can last for several months if
you store it properly.
Q-4: How to plant garlic in spring?
A: Many people
search on Google and ask, "Can you plant garlic in spring?" The
answer is yes. Garlic is mainly planted in winter but now it can be planted in
spring in many places. So, no doubt you can plant garlic in spring or
summer. There will be no problem with it.
Q-5: How deep to plant garlic?
A: Plant the garlic
cloves 2 inches deep with the ends facing up. Space them 4-6 inches apart in
rows that are 12 inches apart.
In conclusion, there is no alternative to
garlic to make the curry tasty. Besides, the health benefits of garlic are
undeniable. Garlic is very popular for sexual health. It is the sex Viagra to
increase sex drive. So, if you have the opportunity and time, you can grow
garlic in the soil of your home garden or in pots. I hope my garlic-growing
instructions will help you a lot. So, collect all the tools for growing
garlic in your home today and start planting.
Do you have anything else to know about
growing garlic in the soil of your home garden or in pots? If so, share it in
the comments.
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