Planting winter garlic in spring

Today we'll discuss an interesting topic: planting winter garlic in the spring. This may seem strange, since winter garlic, like winter wheat, winter triticale, and rye, is usually planted in the fall. However, sometimes we encounter situations where, despite good storage, several garlic cloves have already begun to sprout. These cloves have become soft and yellow and are no longer fit for consumption. It would be a shame to throw them away, especially since they can still be planted in the spring.

Is it possible to plant winter garlic in the spring? The answer is yes, but whether it's worth it is another question, which I'll answer later.

Prevention of fungal diseases

One of the biggest challenges when storing garlic cloves for spring planting is preventing fungal diseases. Among these, fusarium wilt and gray mold pose the greatest threat to garlic.

Fusarium creates dry rot zones on garlic, and when exposed to moisture, it begins to grow and completely destroys the garlic. Gray mold is less dangerous if the garlic has been properly dried, but it can still cause damage. To prevent these diseases, it is important to treat the cloves before planting.

Preparing garlic cloves

To prepare garlic cloves, first remove the outer skin. This is a necessary step. Then, mix the cloves with sand. The ratio can be 50:50 or even more sand than cloves. This mixture helps prevent the cloves from rotting and ensures better drainage.

Soaking garlic cloves

After mixing the cloves with sand, you can soak them in the solution or simply moisten them after planting. Soaking the cloves for about a day allows them to absorb the solution, which can help prevent fungal infections. To promote root development, you can use a growth stimulator, such as Stimul 0 or a similar product. Alternatively, you can use a dry powder, following the instructions for preparing the solution. Biological products such as Bagtogen, Stimul, and Gulliver are also effective. These products are non-toxic, so you can handle them with your bare hands.

Place the cloves in a cool place

After soaking or moistening the cloves, they should be placed in a cool place. This could be outdoors, in the snow, or in the coldest part of the refrigerator. In this cool place, the cloves should last about a month. Since it's mid-March now, by mid-April the weather should be suitable for planting garlic cloves in the ground.

Planting garlic cloves

When planting garlic cloves, be sure to dig a deep enough hole to ensure proper root development. Cover the cloves with soil, leaving about 3-4 cm above them. This will allow the garlic to grow through the soil. While the yield may not be as high as when planting garlic in the fall, this method can still produce a decent harvest. The cloves can also be used for pickling or other culinary purposes.

Using garlic as a companion plant

If you have extra garlic cloves, you can use them for companion planting. Plant them around currant bushes or strawberry beds. This will not only provide you with garlic but also help protect your plants from pests like aphids and beetles.