It is planting time for garlic on two dates a year. As if that wasn't enough, the gardener has the choice of two methods for planting his garlic. So much gardening freedom invites you to try it out.
When and how should you plant garlic?
Garlic can be planted in spring (February/March) or autumn (October). Choose sunny, warm locations and loosen the bed soil. Plant cloves (6 cm deep) or bulbs (2-3 cm deep) with a planting distance of 15-20 cm and row spacing of 45-50 cm.
Spring or autumn – the choice is yours
Garlic not only impresses with its wide range of uses. The medicinal and spice plant also scores points with its flexible planting dates.
- in February/March for a harvest in the same year
- in October for garlic ready for harvest next year
Experience has shown that garlic planted in autumn matures into larger bulbs. This may be due to the longer stay in the ground or the intense cold stimulus as the seasons change.
This is what the location for garlic should be like
In order for garlic to thrive, a few site conditions must be taken into account.
- sunny, warm, sheltered location
- humous, permeable, loamy-sandy soil
- a moderate nutrient content promotes the aroma
Knowledgeable hobby gardeners use the defensive effect of garlic on diseases and pests. When mixed with strawberries, carrots, tomatoes or peppers, the spice plant keeps uninvited guests away from its plant neighbors. However, garlic should not share space with beans, peas, cabbage or potatoes.
Step-by-step instructions for sticking garlic
Both onions and garlic cloves are suitable as planting material. If your neighbor is already cultivating garlic, simply ask him for bulbs after flowering. The small purple seeds are cut out of the flower. Alternatively, cut a tuber into cloves.
- loose up the bed soil and weed thoroughly
- optionally incorporate finely sifted compost
- Put the toes 6 cm deep with the tips facing up
- Growing bulbs only reach a depth of 2-3 cm in the soil
- the ideal planting distance is 15-20 cm
A sufficient row spacing of 45 to 50 cm makes later care work much easier. The addition of fertilizer is controversial among hobby gardeners. If nutrients are dispensed with, the plants remain smaller, but in return they develop a more intense aroma.
Take special precautions when planting in the fall
Although garlic is one of the hardy plants, winter protection is recommended after autumn planting. A thick layer of leaves or straw works wonders in this regard. The warming effect is topped off by mulch film, which also suppresses weeds next spring.
However, you should refrain from using the frequently advertised bark mulch. This material has been proven to remove nutrients from the soil. In this case you would have to add fertilizer, which in turn would be at the expense of the garlic taste.
Tips & Tricks
Garlic is ideal for growing in a container or flower box. If you put the garlic in planters in autumn, you must not miss adequate winter protection. An insulating cover made of bubble wrap protects the planters from the substrate containing the bulbs freezing.
