When to dig up winter-planted garlic in the Moscow region in 2020

Garlic is an excellent antiseptic. It's recommended to include it more frequently in your diet during cold seasons. This plant requires proper harvesting and storage, as this affects its shelf life. Garlic planted in the Moscow region in winter in 2020 should not be harvested before the due date. Unripe garlic often disintegrates into cloves, which negatively impacts its shelf life.

Harvesting Timing and Determining Full Ripening of Garlic

Winter varieties are planted in the fallWinter garlic produces large bulbs. It differs from summer (spring) garlic, which is planted in early spring, in its tall, upright stems. The bulbs of the spring variety are small, with up to 30 bulbs per bulb, but they have a longer shelf life, approximately a year. The plant is dug up based on the growing region and weather conditions. Experts recommend following the lunar calendar. Approximately 25 days before harvesting, the soil around this onion vegetable should be loosened and cleared. This will allow the plant to focus all its energy on growing bulbs. To prevent rotting, do not water the garlic for 30 days before harvesting.

The garlic's maturity is determined by the scapes that form in June. To ensure more nutrients are available for the bulbs to form, they are broken off. Experienced gardeners recommend leaving two scapes in the garden to determine the garlic's maturity. If the garlic is ready for harvest, the scape dries out, and the seed capsule at the top splits open, revealing the bulbs. These bulblets are ready for planting.

Only fully ripened garlic, ready for harvesting, can be stored for a long time without losing its appearance or nutritional value, adding a unique flavor to any dish. To determine when it's time to pull up garlic bulbs planted in the spring, observe how the above-ground parts of the bulbs, as well as the bulbs themselves, change. If the leaves turn yellow, this indicates a halt in growth and photosynthesis. It's time to harvest spring garlic from the garden for storage when the shoots are still partially green.

Gardeners don't recommend waiting until they're completely yellow, as the peel is already starting to rot. Wilted and fallen leaves indicate that this work has been delayed. To determine if the garlic is ripe, you can dig up two or three heads of garlic at different ends of the bed, either halfway up, or pull them out. Mature garlic cloves have:

• dense;
• not stuck together;
• easily separated;
• covered with a layer of easily removable scales.

Its neck becomes completely dry. Harvesting of early varieties begins three months after the first shoots appear; late varieties ripen in about four months. Winter garlic ripens earlier in the summer with frequent rainfall than in warm, pleasant weather. If overripe, the cloves crack. Garlic generally stores well for about six months.

Lunar calendar and tips for specific regions

Garlic planted in the Moscow region in winter 2020 should be dug up according to the lunar cycle. The following chart can help.

Unripe garlic contains a lot of moisture, so if it's harvested too early, it will quickly become unusable. The climate varies greatly across Russia. In the Moscow region, Siberia, and the Urals, it's best to plant early garlic varieties, as late varieties won't have time to produce a harvest before the cold weather sets in. In temperate climates, winter garlic is harvested beginning in July. In the Moscow region, the growing season is slightly longer, so harvesting is delayed by seven days. Since spring varieties grow slightly longer than winter varieties, they are harvested two weeks later, in mid- to late August.

Rules for digging

To avoid damaging the bulbs, dig them up with a special shovel or pitchfork. Any bulbs that are accidentally damaged should be eaten first; they will spoil quickly and should be discarded. Avoid pulling garlic out by hand. It's best to remove the roots after they've dried, as this will preserve the bulbs well. Choose a warm day for this work; if it rains outside at the right time, it's important to dry the bulbs thoroughly. After digging, carefully remove any soil from the bulbs; avoid smashing them against the ground.
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To dry, garlic is laid in rows on the beds and left for 5 days to a week. Once fully ripened and dried, the harvest keeps well throughout the winter. Dry stems and tops should be trimmed off. Many people immediately take the garlic indoors after digging and leave it to dry. Although it takes longer to dry in these conditions, it is protected from sunburn and there is no need to worry about damage from sudden rain. After drying, the heads are sorted by size.

Storage rules

To preserve garlic's appearance and beneficial properties for as long as possible, it should be stored properly. There are several ways, one of which is... storage Braids. To do this, you need to tightly braid the stems and hang them in the pantry. Garlic is also stored in glass jars, and since they are airtight and moisture-proof, the vegetable does not rot. Well-dried bulbs, either disassembled or whole, can be placed in these jars. Other storage methods include salt or paraffin. Dip each bulb in melted paraffin.

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Planting and caring for winter garlic in 2020 according to the moon and regions
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You can use cardboard or wooden boxes with holes and store them in a dry place. Garlic stores well in layers of parchment paper and wicker baskets, which allow fresh air to constantly penetrate, ensuring its appearance and quality remain excellent for a long time. Garlic is very conveniently stored in bunches of 15-20 pieces. After drying, leave the stems at 30 cm long and tie them into a bunch, leaving a loop for hanging.

Spring vegetables retain their nutritional value even in a warm room, and the shelf life of winter varieties is extended by storing them in the refrigerator or cellar. Humidity is crucial for storing garlic. The room must be dry, otherwise fungus and mold will destroy the harvest. The bulbs will become dull and flavorless. The ideal humidity level is around 80%.

Common mistakes

The most common mistake when growing garlic is not harvesting it on time. Spring varieties should not be harvested too late or too early. Those who do not harvest properly will end up with many damaged bulbs. Inadequately dried garlic can lead to mold and the development of pathogenic microbes. Many people store the bulbs in plastic containers or plastic bags, although they are completely unsuitable for this purpose. Proper preparation of garlic bulbs is essential.

When planting this spicy vegetable in your garden, it's important to care for it properly and then harvest it promptly. Only by following the recommendations of experienced gardeners will you be able to grow a high-quality harvest. Knowing when to dig it up will help preserve its integrity and nutritional value until spring.