Planting and caring for winter garlic in 2021 according to the moon and regions

Garlic is a vegetable crop that can be planted in spring and fall. It is most often planted in the fall. Winter varieties ripen several weeks earlier, producing denser and larger heads. Experienced vegetable growers recommend Planting garlic in winter in 2021 According to the lunar calendar, taking into account the regional climate. Then, with the onset of warmer weather, active growth begins. With proper care, winter garlic produces a bountiful harvest as early as early summer.

Advantages of winter planting

Although garlic can be planted in the spring, most gardeners prefer to do so in the fall. This vegetable thrives in any region where farming is possible. Winter varieties tolerate low temperatures well. Their root system develops in the fall. Therefore, in the spring, the plant doesn't waste energy on rooting, and with the arrival of warmer weather, it begins to grow vigorously.

Growing winter garlic has several advantages:

• By hardening off during the winter, plants acquire resistance to cold and infection;
• the bulbs are denser and the cloves are larger than those of spring varieties;
• the yield of winter varieties is higher;
• Plants planted in autumn require minimal care;
• the taste of winter garlic is more pronounced;
• good germination of autumn plantings and uniform seedling size.

Selecting a variety

Winter varieties can be distinguished from spring varieties by their appearance. Winter-planted varieties have cloves arranged in a single row around a central stem. They are all large, uniform in size and shape. During the growing season, they develop a stalk. These stalks then produce small bulblets, which are used for propagation. Spring varieties have smaller cloves. There is no central stem, and the cloves are arranged in a spiral. These plants do not form stalks.

To ensure a bountiful harvest, use only high-quality planting material. Suitable bulbs have roots with firm bases that do not crumble when pressed. They should have tightly closed segments and a dry skin covering the surface.

The best varieties of winter garlic:

1. The 'Komsomolets' variety has an average growing season of 110 to 120 days. A bulb weighing up to 50 grams contains 6-10 cloves. The garlic has a pungent flavor and a sharp aroma. The plant tolerates drought and low temperatures well.
2. The Alkor variety has a short growing season of 85 to 95 days. It is highly productive, producing medium-sized heads weighing up to 35 grams, containing 4 to 6 cloves. They have a pungent flavor and a mild odor.
3. "Sofia" garlic was developed by Ukrainian breeders. Its maturation period is 110 days. This variety tolerates frosts well and thrives in moist soil. Each bulb, weighing up to 120 grams, contains 8 to 10 cloves with a pungent flavor.
4. The early-ripening "Lyubasha" variety yields up to 3.5 kg of bulbs per square meter. Each bulb weighs up to 200 g. Each bulb contains 4 to 7 cloves with a pungent flavor. This variety has excellent shelf life.
5. The "Dobrynya" variety has a growing season of 130 days and is distinguished by good winter hardiness and resistance to major infections. The bulbs, weighing up to 55 grams, consist of 10-12 cloves with a mildly pungent flavor.
6. The early-ripening "Zubrenok" variety yields up to 1.1 kg per square meter. The growing season lasts up to 100 days. Each 70-g bulb contains 5 to 7 cloves with white-pink flesh and a tangy flavor.
7. The frost-resistant "Parus" variety is highly productive. It yields up to 1.5 kg of fruit per square meter. Each bulb weighs up to 40 g and contains 6-8 cloves with a pungent flavor and a sharp aroma.
8. The early-ripening "Lekar" variety ripens in 110 days, boasts excellent frost resistance, and produces a high yield. Each bulb weighs up to 65 g and contains 11-18 cloves with pale pink flesh and a mildly spicy flavor.
9. The early-ripening "Bashkir 85" variety ripens within 90 days of germination. The bulbs weigh up to 65 g, each containing 4-5 dense cloves with a pungent flavor. The variety has strong immunity to downy mildew and fusarium.

Favorable days

The best time to plant garlic in 2021 is mid-autumn, 1-1.5 months before the onset of sustained cold weather. This is usually done in late September or during October. If garlic is planted late, the plants often die before they have time to establish roots. If planted too early, the green shoots begin to grow as early as autumn. The sprouts do not survive the winter cold.

Depending on the phases of the moon

Many gardeners plan their planting according to the lunar calendar. It reflects the changing phases of the Earth's satellite, which exerts its gravitational pull on plant development. During the waxing moon, the aboveground portion of the plant develops more actively, as sap rises upward. During the waning moon, the sap rises upward, leading to a reverse movement of fluids. This accelerates root development. Therefore, the best time to plant garlic is during the waning moon. Planting is generally avoided during the New Moon and Full Moon.

Depending on the region

Winter varieties are planted in the fall so that the cloves have time to root, but not begin to sprout, before the onset of sustained cold weather. Root development takes 30 to 45 days. Therefore, planting times vary by region and are largely dependent on climate conditions.

The Moscow region and other regions of the central part of Russia have a temperate continental climate. Consistently below-zero temperatures set in during the second half of November. Therefore, garlic in this region is planted in early October, between the 11th and 14th. In the southern part of Central Russia, planting is possible later, in the last days of the month. The Leningrad region has a slightly colder climate. Planting should be completed by the end of September.

Cold weather arrives faster in Siberia. In this region, winter varieties are planned for planting in the last ten days of September. Depending on the weather, this may be shifted earlier or later. It's important to complete planting before soil temperatures drop below 10°C. In the Urals, winter varieties are planted in the second half of October. Suitable dates for the northern part of the region are between the 16th and 23rd, and for the southern part, between the 25th and 30th. In the Far East, suitable planting dates are the last ten days of September and the first half of October. In the warm southern part of Russia, garlic is planted the latest – in late October or early November.

Growing garlic

For planting winter vegetable varieties, choose a well-drained, elevated site to avoid flooding from rain or meltwater. Waterlogged or marshy soils are unsuitable. Garlic grows best in sandy loam or loamy soil.

To ensure a bountiful harvest and avoid infection, choose a planting site that adheres to crop rotation requirements. The best predecessors for garlic include green manure, beans, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, beets, and melons. Sites previously planted with onions, garlic, and bulbous flowers are unsuitable. Garlic can be planted near berry bushes. Its pungent aroma will repel pests from strawberries, raspberries, and gooseberries. Flowers also make good neighbors.

Preparation of planting material

Before planting, the selected cloves are placed in a cool place for several days at temperatures between 1°C and 3°C. The cloves are then carefully separated from each other, taking care not to damage the scales. Any specimens with damage or rot are discarded. Only large cloves with a smooth, undamaged surface are suitable for planting.

Selected cloves are disinfected by placing them in a strong potassium permanganate solution for 15 minutes. Copper sulfate or Fitosporin-M can be used instead of potassium permanganate. Sometimes, disinfection is accomplished by sprinkling the cloves with colloidal sulfur powder.

Preparing the garden bed

Prepare the plot 30-45 days before the planned planting date. If the soil is heavy, add compost, wood shavings, and river sand during digging. Light, sandy soil is made heavier by adding humus or clay soil. Highly acidic soils are alkalized with bone meal, dolomite meal, or slaked lime. Fertilize the soil with 30 g of superphosphate and 10 g of potassium salt per 1 m² of bed area.

Landing

The prepared bed is leveled with a rake and make furrows deep 6 to 8 cm apart, spaced 25 cm apart. The cloves are placed in the furrows, either bottom-down or on their sides, at 8 cm intervals. The furrows are filled with fertile soil and watered generously with warm water. To protect against the cold, a 4 cm layer of mulch (straw, humus, sawdust, or peat) is added on top. If winter temperatures in the region frequently drop below -25°C, more substantial insulation is necessary. For this purpose, spruce branches are laid on top. They promote snow accumulation.

Care

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In the fall, after planting, the plants require no further care. The main work begins in the spring after the snow melts. At this time, the coarse mulch layer—branches and pine branches—is removed. Fine organic matter is left in place. This provides additional protection for the plants from subsequent frosts.

Sprouts appear in the garden bed in late March or early April. After germination, nitrogen is applied as a fertilizer. A suitable solution is urea, consisting of 10 liters of water and 20 grams of the fertilizer. Fertilizer can be repeated after 15 days. During the growing season, the garlic is watered weekly. The soil is loosened the day after watering, and weeds are removed.

The next feeding is done in June, when the heads are forming. Phosphorus and potassium solutions are used for this. The solution is prepared by mixing 25 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium nitrate with 10 liters of water. In summer, the garlic bed is watered with the same frequency as in spring. If the weather is hot and dry, the frequency of watering is doubled.

Emerging garlic shoots are broken off when they reach 15 cm in height. The plant uses the nutrients it needs to bear fruit to develop them.

Gardeners' Tips

When planting garlic, some gardeners press the cloves into the soil. This damages the base of the plant, preventing the root system from developing. The correct method is to simply place the garlic cloves in the prepared hole. Fresh manure should not be added as fertilizer. Organic matter increases the risk of fungal infections and increases nitrate levels in the soil. Such fertilizers prevent the bulbs from maturing and reduce the quality of the harvest.

To increase yields, winter garlic is planted in a bed of green manure. The green manure helps retain snow in the bed and protect the dormant garlic cloves from freezing. To achieve this, a month before planting, fast-growing crops with well-developed above-ground parts, such as clover and oats, are sown in the bed. After a month, the greens are cut and left in the rows to rot.

Growing winter garlic is easy. The main challenge is planting it at the right time. The planting time is determined based on the lunar phases. Regional climate characteristics are also taken into account, and weather conditions are adjusted accordingly. With proper care, the vegetable yields a bountiful harvest in the summer.