When to plant garlic?

Garlic , as a common kitchen condiment , is widely grown in our country. Due to the vast territory of our country, there are significant differences in climatic conditions and planting environments in different regions, so there is no unified schedule for sowing garlic. The sowing time needs to be determined according to the local climate characteristics. Some places may sow earlier, while others may sow later. So when should you start planting garlic?

When to plant garlic?

The sowing and harvesting time of spring garlic: In Shandong Province, it is suitable to sow garlic in mid-February and it can usually be harvested in early June. Beijing, Tianjin, Ningxia, Gansu, Shaanxi and other regions are suitable for sowing in early March, and harvesting is expected in late June. For Xinjiang, Qinghai, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Jilin, Inner Mongolia and other regions, the best sowing time is early or mid-April, and the harvest period is mid- or late July.

Planting and harvesting time of autumn garlic: Due to differences in temperature conditions in different places, the planting time in different areas suitable for planting garlic in autumn is also different. Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei and other regions are suitable for sowing from late August to early September, and are expected to be harvested in mid-to-late May to June of the following year. In Hunan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Jiangsu, Anhui, Shanghai, Henan and other regions, sowing can be carried out from late September to early October. Due to differences in varieties, the harvest time is usually from mid-April to mid-to-late June of the following year. According to the local climate characteristics, choose garlic varieties suitable for local conditions, such as Yaoxian red-skinned garlic, Duchang garlic, Jiading garlic, Pengzhou garlic, etc.

How to store garlic after harvesting?

Drying: Newly harvested garlic contains more water and needs to be dried first. Pile the garlic in the field or in a well-ventilated area, and cover the garlic heads with garlic leaves to avoid direct sunlight. After drying for 1 to 2 days, when the garlic stalks become soft, you can trim the stems and remove the whiskers, then continue drying for a few more days.

Hanging or racking: After drying, the garlic can be grouped and hung under a well-ventilated eaves or other suitable places. You can also choose a ventilated and dry place indoors and use wooden or bamboo ladders to store them. Be careful not to place them too densely to ensure air circulation.

Cellaring: In cold areas, garlic can be preserved in underground cellars. The cellar should be kept dry. You can lay dry wheat straw or rice husks on the bottom of the cellar, and then stack the garlic layer by layer of wheat straw or rice husks. Be careful not to stack it too thick, and set ventilation holes.

Mechanical refrigeration: Garlic can be mechanically refrigerated under the condition of a constant temperature warehouse. Before storage, the equipment should be inspected and the warehouse disinfected, and then the garlic should be subjected to high-temperature induced dormancy treatment, the roots should be removed, and the garlic should be packaged and stored after selection and grading. The optimum temperature for refrigeration is -1℃～-2℃, and the relative humidity is 50%～60%.

Controlled atmosphere storage: By controlling the gas composition in the storage environment, such as reducing the oxygen content and increasing the carbon dioxide content, the germination of garlic can be effectively inhibited. This method usually requires the use of plastic bags, silicone rubber bags or large plastic tents, and regular testing of the gas composition.

Note: During storage, garlic should be protected from moisture and rain and kept in a ventilated and dry place. Check the quality of garlic regularly and deal with any problems found promptly. The temperature should be raised slowly when leaving the warehouse to prevent condensation on the surface of the garlic bulbs.

The above methods can select the appropriate saving method according to actual conditions and resources.

In short, the sowing time of garlic varies in different regions, and everyone should choose suitable varieties according to appropriate environmental conditions.