When is the best time to water garlic during the winter?

Garlic grows slowly during the winter and the soil needs to be kept moist, so water is very critical for garlic over the winter. When watering garlic over the winter, the amount of water should be controlled to ensure that it is watered thoroughly but there should be no accumulation of water on the ground to prevent the roots from lacking anaerobic respiration and causing the seedlings to die. So when is the best time to water garlic during the winter? Let’s take a look with the editor below.

1. When is the best time to water garlic during the winter?

The suitable time to water garlic during the winter is generally in November, during which time the temperature gradually decreases and the soil begins to enter the freezing period. The specific watering time needs to be determined according to soil moisture conditions and seedling growth. The most suitable temperature for watering garlic over the winter is when the weather is above 5℃. It is not recommended to water when the temperature drops to 1-2℃ to avoid freezing and frostbite the plants. The best time to water is when the local average daily ground temperature is around 5°C, 3°C during the day and 0°C at night.

At the same time, when watering garlic over the winter, you should choose to water it during the night frost and day melting stage. This can not only lay the foundation for the plants to return to green, but also kill some garlic maggot eggs and reduce insect pests. Therefore, based on the above information, the time for watering garlic over the winter should be based on local climatic conditions and garlic growth conditions. It should be done in mid-to-late November to before the soil freezes, and in sunny weather with the temperature above 5°C and the freezing point disappearing during the day.

2. How to water garlic during the winter?

1. Watering method

① Ground watering: suitable for garlic planted in small areas. When watering, you need to be careful to use the right amount to avoid stagnant water that may suffocate the garlic roots.

② Furrow irrigation method: suitable for large-scale garlic planting. Digging trenches in the garlic planting area and then irrigating water from the trenches can effectively guide water to the area around the garlic roots. But you need to control the amount of water and avoid overwatering.

③Drip irrigation: It is a precise, economical and efficient way of watering. It can supply water quantitatively according to the water demand of garlic, saving water and energy. Suitable for large-scale planting of garlic with high benefits.

2. Watering amount

When watering for the winter, water thoroughly but there should not be any water accumulation on the ground. The amount of watering should be adjusted according to factors such as soil conditions, weather conditions and garlic's water requirements. Usually the amount of water for each irrigation should be to keep the soil moisture content at 70%-80% of the field water holding capacity. If furrow irrigation is used, about 40 cubic meters of water per mu will be sufficient. If drip irrigation is used, precise control is required based on the specific equipment and water requirements of the garlic.

3. Water quality selection

When watering garlic, it is best to choose a clean water source with fewer impurities. This includes natural precipitation or purified water that has been filtered to remove impurities. Avoid using water sources that contain harmful substances such as chemical fertilizers , pesticides , and heavy metals.

The above is an introduction to when it is appropriate to water garlic during the winter. Watering garlic during the winter is an important field management measure, which is usually done in November, when the temperature gradually decreases and the soil begins to enter the freezing period.