How and when to plant garlic in spring

The growth cycle of garlic planted in spring is relatively short, which is suitable for some early-maturing varieties and can be harvested in summer. It is usually planted from mid-March to early April, when the temperature gradually warms up and the soil temperature stabilizes at 3℃-6℃, which is conducive to the germination of garlic seeds and the growth of seedlings. Below, the editor will introduce the method and time of planting garlic in spring. Let’s take a look.

1. How to plant garlic in spring

1. Select the site and apply fertilizer

Garlic likes loose, fertile soil rich in organic matter, with good air permeability and convenient drainage and irrigation. Before planting, the land should be deeply plowed and well-rotted farmyard manure or compound fertilizer should be applied as base fertilizer. 3000-5000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer and 50 kg of compound fertilizer can be applied per mu of land.

2. Seed selection

Choose plump, pest-free, and undamaged garlic cloves as seeds. The size of the garlic cloves should be moderate, not too big or too small. In terms of varieties, you can choose early-maturing or mid-maturing varieties that are suitable for local climate and soil conditions, such as Yingxian garlic, Acheng purple garlic, Tianjin six-petal red, etc.

3. Planting seeds

Dig trenches with a row spacing of 15-20 cm and a depth of 5-8 cm. Place the garlic cloves upright in the trench with the pointed end facing upwards, about 3-5 cm deep, and cover with 2-3 cm of soil. After sowing, water thoroughly to keep the soil moist.

4. Covering with mulch

Covering the ground with film can increase soil temperature, speed up germination and promote the growth of garlic seedlings. After covering with film, attention should be paid to artificially assisting seedling emergence to prevent the seedlings from being covered by the film.

5. Water and fertilizer management

During the germination period of garlic, keep the soil moist, but avoid waterlogging to prevent root rot. During the growing season, you can follow the principle of watering when the soil is dry and watering when the soil is wet. During the bolting period, water should be controlled appropriately to promote the expansion of the bulb. Before harvesting, stop watering to allow the garlic skins to dry. During the seedling stage of garlic, you can apply seedling-promoting fertilizers, such as urea. During the bulb expansion period, it is necessary to apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, such as potassium sulfate. In the later stage, foliar fertilizers such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be sprayed to prevent premature aging.

2. When to plant garlic in spring

The best time to plant garlic in spring is usually from March to April, when the temperature gradually warms up and the soil temperature stabilizes between 3℃-6℃, which is conducive to the germination of garlic seeds and the growth of seedlings, but the specific time will vary depending on the geographical location and climatic conditions.

Due to the warm climate in the south, garlic can usually be planted between February and March. Due to the colder climate in the northern region, it is necessary to wait until March to April when the climate stabilizes before planting. In the north, the period around Qingming Festival is a more suitable time for planting.

The above is an introduction to the method and time of planting garlic in spring. Choose early-maturing varieties suitable for spring planting, such as purple garlic, Yongnian garlic, etc. These varieties are cold-resistant and have a short growing season, making them suitable for spring sowing.