When to harvest spring and winter garlic in Siberia: a guide and timing

About spring garlic

Spring garlic is one that is planted in spring. Planting dates vary between mid-April and early May. Whereas winter crops are planted on the site in the fall, so that in winter it develops with a sluggish glanders and among the first to give a crop.

The spring type of culture does not release an arrow with bulbs for reproduction, unlike its winter counterpart. At the same time, it is also resistant to cold, so sometimes you can neglect the timing and plant in early April, when the weather is relatively warm. This species contains about 30 lobules in the bulb, which are arranged in a spiral - the smallest ones near the center. At the same time, in terms of shelf life, spring varieties are many times more stable than winter ones.

In many ways, the harvest depends on how to plant and in what conditions to grow. In Siberia, the summer is short, which means you need to stimulate the plant to grow quickly and form a head. That is why they try to plant garlic early so that the root system develops well during a period of low temperature. It is located in the upper layers of the soil, rarely going deeper, therefore, a loamy soil with neutral acidity is needed. A well-lit, windless place with good soil moisture, but at the same time without excessive stagnation of water, is assigned for planting. In the summer, the soil should be mulched with peat in order to rid the beds of weeds, and also to maintain moisture for longer.

Spring garlic is propagated by cloves, choosing the largest ones. At the same time, the type of storage (warm or cold) depends on how quickly the plant grows, as well as the size of the bulbs.

When there is no time to wait for the harvest, you need to soak the bulb for 2 hours in a light solution of potassium permanganate, and then wrap it in a damp cloth and put in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. This stimulates the development of the root system, which means that harvesting will be much closer.

Cleaning time

If with winter garlic it is clear when it is necessary to dig it out, guided by the state of the arrow, then with spring garlic it is necessary to show deductive abilities. Harvesting dates vary between mid-August and early September, from about 20th to 10th. The signal that the time has come to harvest is manifested in the yellowing of the leaves. An additional symptom is the soft collar of the false stem. You can check the readiness of the plantings for harvesting by digging out a few bulbs to assess the condition of the scales. If it is strong, strong, without damage, then you can dig up the bulbs.

You can also navigate by the lunar calendar. In August 2021, it is best to harvest the garlic on the 19th, 23rd, 30th to ensure better storage of the crop in the winter. You do not need to touch the planting on August 18, as the harvest will be worse stored. But in September 2021, almost the entire month will be suitable for harvesting: 2, 3, 8-12, 15, 20-22, 26-29. You will have to leave the crop alone on the 1st, 6th, 16th, 17th and 30th of the first month of autumn.

Again, be guided by the weather, which in 2021 is quite changeable in the Siberian strip.

Cleaning technology

Garlic should be harvested in dry weather, preferably in the early morning or evening, when it is not very hot. Initially, you should pry the bulbs out of the ground using a pitchfork or a shovel and leave to dry on the garden bed. A week later, when the bulbs warm up well in the sun, they are laid out on nets so as not to crumple. It depends on how well they will be stored. You can tie the plants into bouquets of 15-20 heads and hang them to dry on the wall.

If it starts raining or warm weather turns into a stifling heat, you should move the crop under a canopy. Initial drying after harvest is a very important stage for later storage. Bulbs must not be damaged by insects or gardening equipment so that they do not rot.

Stop watering the beds about a week before the expected harvest. Dried onions keep better.

After digging up the plants, trim the roots so that about 2 cm is left of them, as well as the stem, so that there is 7-8 cm left for braiding or tying into a bouquet.

Storage

You can remove the garlic for storage when it dries well. For winter storage, there are two options: warm and cold.

With the warm method, the bulbs are folded in cloth or paper bags so that fresh air is available. You can use cardboard boxes. When you place the garlic heads in their bags, fold them in a cool, dark place.

With the cold method, the garlic bulbs are placed in a cool dry place, such as a basement or refrigerator. It is important that the air temperature does not exceed +5 ° C.

You can combine both types of storage, when from 6 to 8 months the garlic heads are stored at room temperature and then cooled for 2 months, for example, in the refrigerator. This is done to further stimulate the growth of teeth.

Another way to preserve the 2021 harvest well is to divide the heads into cloves, lay them on a cloth or any flat surface in a cool place. This stimulates the development of the root system and will be useful for industrial planting of garlic. It is very important to moisten the roots shortly before planting the plant on the site, as they quickly dry out and die off. The increased humidity of the air helps the cloves to achieve turgor, and this has a positive effect on the primary adaptation of the plant in the open field.

Video "Harvesting Spring Garlic"

It's time to dig up the spring garlic. For how the harvesting process looks like, watch this video.