Which month is best to plant garlic sprouts?

Garlic sprouts, also known as green garlic, are the tender sprouts formed during the growth process of garlic , with the unique spicy flavor of garlic. The edible parts of garlic sprouts are its soft leaves and leaf sheaths. From sowing to harvesting, the growth cycle of garlic sprouts only takes dozens of days. It is a fast-growing vegetable and is easy to grow. The unique aroma of garlic sprouts makes it a common seasoning in cooking. It is one of the main vegetables in the home garden and a common variety grown on the balconies of families in southern cities. Garlic sprouts are cultivated throughout China. They prefer warm climates but have relatively low tolerance to cold. Let’s take a look at the best months to plant garlic sprouts.

Which month is best to plant garlic sprouts?

Garlic sprouts can be planted in any season of the year, but the best time to sow them is from the end of July to mid-August. Garlic sprouts sown during this period not only have high yields but also have superior quality. The reason is that the most suitable temperature range for the growth period of garlic sprouts (i.e. the critical period for yield formation) is 18 to 25 degrees Celsius. Within this temperature range, the stems and leaves of garlic sprouts grow rapidly and the fiberization process is slow, thus producing garlic sprouts with a fresh and tender taste. If the sowing time is too late, causing the temperature to be lower than 17 degrees Celsius during the growth period, the growth rate of the stems and leaves of the garlic sprouts will slow down and the yield will decrease accordingly. On the contrary, if sowing is too early and the temperature exceeds 25 degrees Celsius during the growth period, the growth of the stems and leaves of the garlic sprouts will slow down, making them prone to lignification and increasing the cellulose content, thus affecting the taste and flavor of the garlic sprouts. Therefore, in the Huanghuai region, it is suitable to sow in mid-August in the south and at the end of July in the north. In this way, when the stems and leaves grow and form yield, the temperature is just around 25 degrees Celsius, which is an ideal environment for garlic sprouts to grow.

Key points for planting garlic sprouts

1. Variety selection

Almost all garlic varieties can be used to grow green garlic seedlings, but the most ideal varieties should have the characteristics of short dormancy period, rapid germination, no disease, and large and thick leaves. In actual planting, farmers usually tend to use large-clove garlic seeds because they are rich in nutrients, have strong seedlings, grow rapidly, and produce garlic seedlings with thick stems and leaves, high yield and excellent quality. When selecting large-clove garlic varieties, local natural conditions and planting systems should be considered to ensure the adaptability of the variety.

2. Soil conditions

In order to ensure that the stems and leaves of the green garlic seedlings are fresh and juicy and to improve the quality of the dish, fertile and loose soil is essential. In addition to choosing land with high fertility, deep plowing (about 30 cm) should be carried out and the soil should be dried for about a week. When plowing the land, apply 3 cubic meters of fully decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, including 1 kilogram of biological potash fertilizer and 50 to 60 kilograms of cake fertilizer, as well as 50 to 60 kilograms of garlic-specific compound fertilizer , to enhance the taste of garlic sprouts and provide sufficient nutrients.

3. Preparation for sowing

To increase the germination rate, the garlic seeds should be soaked in cool water for 8 to 10 hours before sowing, or subjected to a low temperature treatment of 2 to 4 degrees Celsius for about 14 days. Green garlic seedlings are suitable for dense planting, with a planting rate of about 100 to 150 kilograms per mu. When sowing, keep the row spacing between 15 and 20 cm, the furrow depth between 8 cm, and the plant spacing between 5 and 7 cm. Water the soil sufficiently before sowing, cover with 3 cm thick soil after sowing, and cover the bed surface with 3 cm thick straw or shade net to reduce the temperature. Remember to water before 9 o'clock every morning until the seedlings are fully grown. After the garlic sprouts top the soil, the straw should be removed in time to prevent the sprouts from yellowing and growing too tall.

4. Watering management

After the seedlings are all grown, keeping the soil moderately moist is the key to cultivating fresh stems and leaves. In the early growth stage, cool water should be used for irrigation at 6 am to avoid seedling death caused by watering during high temperature periods. In the late growth period from September to October, you can water it in the morning and evening as needed. In the early stage, because the weather is still hot, you need to water frequently; in the later stage, when the weather turns cooler, you can water once every 5 days.

5. Topdressing

Top dressing is mainly with quick-acting fertilizer. The first top dressing is done when the seedlings are 5 to 7 leaves away, with 15 to 20 kilograms of compound fertilizer applied per mu. The second top dressing should be carried out 25 to 30 days after the first top dressing, applying 15 kilograms of urea per mu. Combine fertilization with watering to keep the soil moist.

6. Soil cultivation

In order to increase the length of garlic sprouts, you can use the soil-building method. After the seedlings are all grown, water them thoroughly and sprinkle a layer of fine soil about 5 cm thick after the water seeps down. The depth of soil cultivation should be adjusted according to the growth of green garlic. If the plant grows healthily, you can add soil again to promote the growth of the pseudostem.

7. Harvest

Harvesting can begin 85 to 90 days after sowing, when the plant height reaches 15 cm. The method of collecting large plants and keeping small plants is adopted, and they are put on the market in batches.

The above is an introduction to the time and key points of planting garlic sprouts. Garlic sprouts can actually be planted throughout the year, but the best time is still in July and August.