Winter garlic planting in the Moscow region: lunar dates for 2020, variety selection, and care

There are two types of garlic: spring and winter. Spring varieties are planted around April, while winter varieties are planted in the fall before frost. Winter varieties are more widely grown because they are less susceptible to cold and disease, require less maintenance, have a richer flavor, and produce a much better harvest than spring varieties. The planting date is determined based on the lunar calendar, taking into account the growing region.

Climatic features of the area

Garlic is a very popular vegetable crop. This is due to its pungent flavor and characteristic aroma. The aroma is caused by the presence of organic sulfides (thioesters) in the plant. Garlic, or allium sativum in Latin, is a relative of the onion family; its cloves are called bulbs. In our country, the name "cloves" is more common. Landing time depends on the climatic features and weather conditions of the region:

1. Central Russia has a temperate continental climate. In Moscow, the Moscow region, and other regions, it's best to plant garlic for the winter in the second and third ten days of September and in October, but no later than the 10th, as frosty weather will begin to set in as early as the first days of November.
2. In the Far East, planting takes place at approximately the same time as in Central Russia: from the 20th of September until mid-October.
3. In the Urals, winter garlic is planted throughout September, but no later than the end of September. The Leningrad Region's climate is very similar to the Urals, so the timing for planting outdoors is roughly the same.
4. Siberia has harsher winter conditions. Planting begins in early September, but requires soil temperatures of at least 10 degrees Celsius.

Avoid planting cloves too early, as the sprouts may be killed by the first frost. Late planting can also be detrimental to the plant, as the cloves will not be able to root properly. The optimal planting time is 30-45 days before the onset of frost. If you can't predict the weather and the garlic sprouts, cover the sprouts with leaves, dry grass, sawdust, or agrofibre. The cover can be removed only in the spring. Spring garlic grows poorly in dry soil, so don't wait for dry weather to set in. This garlic is planted in early spring, as soon as the snow melts and the soil warms to 5-7°C (41-45°F). Don't worry about recurrent frosts. Garlic is a frost-hardy plant.

In Moscow and the Moscow region, planting can begin in mid-April. In areas with harsher climates, planting time is shifted forward by 2-3 weeks, while in milder climates (southern areas) it is shifted back by 2-3 weeks. If planting is delayed, outdoor temperatures reaching 15°C (59°F) can slow and eventually stop plant development. This is because spring varieties thrive at temperatures up to 10°C (50°F).

Varietal characteristics of garlic

Currently, there are approximately 20 varieties of winter garlic and approximately 10 varieties of spring garlic. Not every region can accommodate a particular garlic variety. Depending on climate conditions, the following spring varieties are common in different regions:

1. Northern regions with prolonged cold temperatures are Permyak, Samorodok, Porechye, Uralets, and Shunut.
2. Southern regions with a warm climate - Gulliver, Victorio, Sochi 56.

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There are also universal varieties for spring planting:

• Abrek;
• Ershovsky;
• Degtyarsky;
• Countryman;
• Elenovsky and others.

Winter varieties are more versatile. Many gardeners prefer the following:

• Gribovsky-60;
• Gribovsky Jubilee;
• Komsomolets;
• Lyubasha;
• Saved;
• Sofievsky;
• Alcor;
• Belorussian;
• baby bison;
• Moscow region;
• Dobrynya;
• Dubkovsky.

The right choice of variety is 50% of success.

Planting dates

To ensure a good harvest, consider not only regional climate conditions and garlic variety characteristics, but also carefully study the lunar calendar. This is because plants depend on the phases of the moon, so following the calendar's instructions is recommended.

According to the lunar calendar, winter garlic should be planted in the Moscow region on the following dates in 2020:

Favorable days for planting garlic in spring:

Table of unfavorable days:

Considering favorable planting days in the coming year, don't forget the following simple rules:

• avoid planting on new and full moon days;
• plant on the waning moon;
• Favorable signs for culture are Sagittarius and Taurus.

Before planting, it's important to remember that some varieties have their own timing. For example:

• Lyubasha – planted in late September – early October;
• Alcor - in September;
• Titan from late September to early November.

You shouldn't plant winter garlic in the spring, otherwise you'll only get tops instead of a harvest, as the heads won't be able to fully develop in the soil.

Preparation of seed and soil

Winter garlic varieties are propagated vegetatively in several ways: by bulb segments (cloves); single-clove bulblets (sets) grown from aerial bulblets; and aerial bulblets (bulbs) grown in cultivation throughout the season. Spring varieties are propagated only by cloves (a bud with a growing point and leaf primordia).

The seed material is placed in a cool place with a temperature not exceeding 5 for several weeks. ^OC. Then the heads are carefully separated into cloves and sorted. Only large cloves (approximately 3-4 centimeters) with a smooth surface are suitable for planting. Do not remove the clove scales. A head grown from a peeled clove will not store well.

Before planting, the selected material is disinfected with a solution:

• potassium permanganate (1%);
• copper sulfate (1%).

The cloves are placed in the solution for 30 minutes and then dried. If using lye ash, wait about 2 hours after soaking. Treatment with Fitosporin is acceptable. To speed up the germination of garlic, you can wrap the prepared cloves in a damp cloth and place them in a warm place for 2-3 days (preferably in a plastic bag). Garlic is native to Central Asia, so winter varieties grow best in sandy loam soil. Spring varieties prefer medium and light loamy soils. A good place to plant cloves would be in beds where the following plants grew last year:

• legumes;
• pumpkin;
• cabbage;
• cereal crops.

It's very beneficial to plant garlic in areas previously occupied by forage grasses (alfalfa, sweet clover, clover). It's not recommended to plant garlic in beds after tomatoes or onions. Avoid planting garlic after root crops, as they significantly deplete the soil. It's not recommended to use the same area for garlic for several years in a row. It's best to replant the same area every 3-4 years.

Since garlic is a sun-loving plant, it's best planted in sunny areas sheltered from strong winds. Planting it at a higher elevation will help prevent waterlogging. A month before planting, dig the bed to a depth of 20-25 centimeters. If you dig the soil too early, the seeds may sink deep into the soil and die due to lack of air. Before planting, thoroughly clear the bed of weeds.

Planting and care

For convenience, the bed can be divided into furrows or holes. The depth of these furrows or holes is 15 cm. When planting winter varieties, first lay down a layer of river sand no more than 3 cm thick for drainage and to protect the crop from rotting in the spring after the snow melts. Then, place the prepared cloves at least 10 cm apart and cover with soil. Mulching the bed is recommended:

• foliage;
• dry grass;
• sawdust;
• agrofibre.

Many gardeners like to plant garlic with other crops. They do this by mixing garlic with dill: when the soil in the bed containing the cloves has frozen slightly, simply scatter dill seeds and lightly rake the soil surface. Both crops will sprout in the spring. This type of bed is more difficult to weed, but this mixed planting will benefit the garlic—the bulbs will grow healthy and large.

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Planting garlic near horseradish increases the concentration of ascorbic acid in its leaves. Potatoes can be planted together. This will help reduce the likelihood of Colorado potato beetles and prevent the development of late blight. When planted nearby, the phytoncides released by garlic can protect:

• bulbous flower crops (asters, carnations, roses, tulips and others);
• cucumbers;
• fruit and berry bushes (gooseberries, raspberries, black currants).

When planting, it's not recommended to press garlic into the soil. This can negatively impact root development. It's best to plant in a pre-prepared hole. Use mineral fertilizers for top dressing. Organic fertilizers won't help ensure a good harvest; they'll only encourage fungal growth and increase nitrate levels in the soil.

Garlic does not require any special care:

• periodic loosening of the soil to a depth of 3 cm;
• top dressing (for spring varieties, twice a summer is enough);
• regular watering.

Infrequent watering may cause yellowing and drying of leaf tips, and the death of lower leaves. This is due to low soil moisture. If garlic is growing too densely, it should be thinned out. Despite its distinctive odor, garlic can be susceptible to diseases (fungal and bacterial) and pests (onion fly larvae, onion hoverfly, onion woodworm, onion thrips, onion weevils, onion moths, onion stem nematodes, and others). It can also be infested by mites (root mites and garlic mites). Bacterial rot can affect garlic both during the growing season and during storage. The most dangerous fungal disease is fusarium (yellowing of leaves followed by the appearance of a pinkish coating of spores on them, infestation of the bulb by spores from the base, followed by death of the roots.

Garlic is susceptible to damage:

• downy mildew (peronosporosis);
• black mold;
• rust and others.

You can protect seedlings and harvests from diseases and pests through preventative measures and by following proper cultivation practices. Irrigating with salt water can be a preventative measure. To avoid many diseases, carefully inspect and sort garlic cloves before planting. One bad clove can ruin the harvest. After harvesting, it's also important to carefully inspect and discard any damaged heads.

In conclusion, it's worth noting that garlic is widely used not only in cooking but also in folk medicine. It is added to various tinctures and mixtures. Garlic's main medicinal properties include antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects. While it's essential for humans, garlic, like onions, is highly toxic for dogs and cats.