Processing garlic before winter planting: soaking garlic and cultivating the soil

An important step is preparing garlic for planting in the winter; the future harvest largely depends on how the garlic and soil are treated. Professional fungicides and solutions prepared from home remedies are used for these treatments. This treatment will protect the garlic from potential diseases and improve the quality of the harvest.

Why is processing necessary?

Garlic is a vegetatively propagated crop. The newly formed plant will inherit all the qualities and properties of the mother plant. It will also inherit diseases, which are most pronounced in the spring. Thoroughly treating garlic before winter planting is essential to eliminate as many fungal spores as possible, which can affect the plant. Timely preventative measures will ensure a high-quality harvest.

The impact of existing hereditary diseases on the quality of winter crops was studied in detail at the All-Russian Institute of Plants. With this expert information, gardeners can combat plant diseases in a timely manner. This increases yields and improves their quality.

Causes of damage

If garlic isn't treated before winter planting, there's a high probability that much of the harvest will be spoiled. The vegetable often rots due to pathogenic microorganisms. Garlic rot is a common disease, affecting areas in the central part of the country. Pre-treatment of the planting material solves this problem. If planting in the spring, it's also necessary to thoroughly disinfect the soil before planting. This significantly reduces the risk of disease in the planted crop.

Spoilage is often caused by improper disinfection of selected planting material. By mistake, the required concentration of the disinfectant used can be significantly exceeded, which can burn the selected cloves. If an insufficient amount of disinfectant is used, cleaning will be incomplete. This can also result in crop spoilage.

How to prepare garlic for planting in the fall

Winter garlic is suitable for fall planting. Spring garlic is not used during this period. Experienced gardeners identify distinctive differences between the two types:

• only winter crops have an old arrow;
• A multi-tiered arrangement of cloves is typical for spring crops. Winter crops typically have only one tier; in rare cases, a second tier may contain a couple of small cloves.
• The winter root crop is distinguished by the color of its skin – it is purple.

If you plant a spring variety in winter, it will freeze and the expected seedlings will not emerge in the spring. Preparing winter varieties has a clear algorithm and is carried out in a prescribed sequence.

Selection of heads

Not all planting material is suitable for winter planting. When selecting, gardeners carefully examine each head, evaluating them based on several criteria:

• Head size. The new crop will inherit the characteristics of the mother plant, so small heads are not selected for planting;
• Weight of the cloves. Ideally, the weight of the cloves should be approximately the same. This will ensure that all the cloves in the future harvest will be uniform.
• Appearance. The planting material should be free of disease signs and a loose texture. The disease may be visible on one clove, but this indicates that the entire bulb is affected;
• The skin's density is assessed. In a healthy plant, it adheres tightly to the edible part.

Selection and preparation of cloves

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Select individual cloves for planting. It's best if they are of the same size and shape. Separating a head isn't always easy. Soaking it in water for a couple of minutes can make the task easier. This softens the outer skin. When separating, be careful not to damage the outer skin.

Additionally, each clove should be inspected during the soaking process. This will eliminate the risk of disease later. The base of the clove should be inspected. If there are no signs of roots, the planting material will not germinate in the spring. When preparing the soaking solution, add a couple of crystals of potassium permanganate to water at 20-25 degrees Celsius. The water should be light pink. Soak the cloves in the solution for up to 30 minutes, no longer.

Do I need to peel winter garlic before planting it in the garden?

Experienced gardeners strongly advise against peeling planting material. The peel on the cloves is a natural defense against pests and diseases. It should not be removed. Ignoring this step and peeling the cloves can further damage the root base. This will ruin the planting material, and you shouldn't expect any shoots to emerge in the spring.

How to treat garlic before planting in winter

There are various ways to treat garlic before winter planting. Each method disinfects the planting material, which will subsequently protect it from pathogens and other pests.

Ash lye

This is the simplest, yet highly effective method for protecting crops from roundworms. It involves thoroughly mixing wood ash with plain water. Over time, solid dust particles will begin to settle to the bottom of the container. The solution will become enriched with potassium and calcium hydroxides, which are highly alkaline. This solution negatively impacts the activity of nematodes hiding in the heads.

Potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate)

Potassium permanganate is the most common treatment. It destroys pathogenic microflora, inhibits fungal growth, and supplies seedlings with potassium, which has a beneficial effect on the subsequent development of the plant. Potassium permanganate is not harmful to humans, but it is best to wear rubber gloves when handling it. Solutions that are too concentrated can leave marks and damage the skin.

Copper sulfate

Among the many fungicides, copper sulfate is considered one of the most common. Its popularity stems from its strong disinfectant properties. Soaking the cloves in a copper sulfate solution helps kill any harmful microorganisms that may contaminate the product. To prepare the solution, you need:

• Mix thoroughly (until completely dissolved) 5 g of crystals in 1 liter of water;
• place the heads in the solution for 10 minutes;
• After soaking, the product must be dried naturally.

With the help of this solution, many gardeners process and then They plant not only garlic, but also other crops.

Phytosporin solution

Fitosporin-M is often used to treat garlic before planting in the fall. This solution has a broad spectrum of action, protecting plants from virtually all diseases. For treatment, you'll need 1 liter of water (25-30°C). Dissolve the powder in the water and soak the garlic in the liquid for half an hour. If the solution is weak, you can soak the planting material for up to an hour. Then, dilute the solution 1:10 with water and use it to treat the holes where the root vegetables will be planted.

Fungicide "Maxim"

It's used to disinfect all root crops. It helps combat the development of all kinds of plant diseases. It features an extremely simple application method, as described in the instructions. It can be used for treating soil, garlic, and other planting materials.

Table salt

Every homemaker's kitchen is stocked with table salt. It can be used not only in cooking but also for disinfecting and storing various foods. To treat garlic, you'll need a concentrated salt solution (1 liter of water, 2 tablespoons of salt). For a stronger effect, you can add 1 teaspoon of regular baking soda. Stir the solution thoroughly until the crystals dissolve. The mixture disinfects the surface, softens the cloves, and the salt penetrates, killing all bacteria and fungi. Soaking will take 15 to 30 minutes. Afterward, be sure to let the garlic dry naturally before planting.

Soil preparation

Disinfect the soil before planting garlic for the winter This is absolutely necessary. Even if you plant properly prepared seedlings in contaminated soil, you can't expect a good, healthy harvest. The soil must be free of pests and disinfected from fungal infections. Gardeners advise against planting garlic in the same area two years in a row. A bed that has recently been fertilized with manure is not suitable. There is a scientific explanation for this:

• during the growth process, the above-ground part will form better, rather than the bulb;
• the heads formed in such a section are loose and do not store well;
• This crop has a high risk of infection by fungal diseases.

It is best to plant garlic in the beds, where cucumbers and tomatoes, pumpkins, or cabbage were recently grown. The area must be well-lit. It is better if it faces east or west. It is not worth plant garlic in lowlands, moisture will accumulate there and the crop may rot.

Soil preparation should be done in the fall. This process involves several steps:

• the soil should be dug up and weeds should be carefully removed;
• during the digging process, add compost; if the soil is acidic, add ash;
• Water the fertilized area with a fungicide solution. It's best to use a ready-made soil disinfectant. Apply it according to the instructions. The solution protects the soil from possible infections, improves crop quality, and increases yield.

Reviews

Elena

Before planting, I always treat my garlic. I use my grandmother's homemade method, as I see no point in buying any other products, as regular salt is just as effective at killing all bacteria. The harvest is always good, and the garlic never shows any signs of disease. The cloves grow large, healthy, and beautiful.

Andrey

For the past 10 years, I've been using copper sulfate before planting garlic. Besides treating the garlic itself, I also add it to the soil. After this disinfection, the garlic never gets sick. I also use copper sulfate to disinfect my tomato patch. I spray the solution on the plants and soil. As a result, no insects threaten my harvest.

Natalia

I'd never treated garlic before. But in the last couple of years, it's started developing diseases. I've tried various disinfection methods, but I think the most effective one was a solution containing potassium permanganate. It's effective at killing microbes that parasitize root vegetables and is an excellent fertilizer. This treatment didn't affect the garlic's flavor at all.

Conclusion

How well the garlic will survive the cold and the next year's harvest depend on how well the crop and soil are prepared for winter. Careful preparation of the planting material and careful selection of the right planting site are essential. By following these simple recommendations, you can be sure of a satisfying harvest and an increased yield.