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Is there a condiment more popular than garlic? Especially in Brazil, our cuisine enhances the flavor of seasoning in almost all recipes, from beans and rice to the preparation of the most special dishes.
After all, besides being tasty, garlic offers several health benefits: it fights fungi and bacteria, prevents colon cancer, protects the heart, improves inflammatory and respiratory diseases, etc.
Belonging to the Liliaceae family, as well as onions, leeks and chives, garlic can easily be found at any fair or market. But who knows how to plant organic garlic can only gain from its cultivation and commercialization, since the demand for more natural products has grown and spending on planting is minimal.
In addition, if you value health and want to know where the food comes from, know that garlic is very easy to grow. Next, we have prepared a guide on how to plant garlic at home. Follow us!
How to plant garlic: ideal conditions
Garlic does not require complicated care and can be grown in small beds or on a large scale. Garlic is one of those foods that will always be on our table, that is, it is consumed every day of the year. Therefore, investing in this type of production can be a great opportunity for those who want to market it.
To learn how to plant garlic at home, whether for own consumption or for sale, we need to know the particularities of the plant so that it grows healthy and rich in nutrients.
Climate
Despite being a very adaptable plant, the climate is too humid, making it difficult for garlic to dry in the desirable period and prolonging the ripening period. The ideal is to start planting in early autumn, or when you notice the drier climate.
The ideal temperature should be 10 ° C to 15 ° C, because, even though garlic likes direct sunlight, it adapts better in colder climates and with low air humidity. The seeds, or even the garlic cloves, should be refrigerated for about two months before planting.
Ground
Garlic can withstand a wide range of soil pH, and can thrive well in soil with a pH of 5.5 to 8.3. The ideal for the product to grow healthy is the pH between 6 and 6.5.
An ideal soil should be rich in organic matter, light and with a good drainage capacity so as not to accumulate water.
Water
First, garlic must be watered constantly, to achieve good development in the initial growth. Then, the water should be reduced gradually. About 20 days before harvesting, watering must be stopped completely.
Harvest
It may take 3 to 9 months to harvest your garlic, depending on the variety and weather conditions. Before beginning cultivation, it is worth researching the ideal harvest time for the variety to stop irrigation.
Harvesting should take place when most of the leaves start to become dry and yellow. At this stage, it is necessary to remove the garlic heads and leave them in a warm environment for them to dry.
Harvested garlic must be in constant sunlight for 30 days to dry naturally. Then leave it for 20 to 50 days in the shade. This process causes the garlic to dry naturally, losing its moisture and maintaining the flavor so characteristic of this spice.
How to plant garlic: step by step
Now that you know the conditions of climate, soil, water and harvest, see the step by step how to plant garlic at home and have your own private garden. Come on!
How to plant garlic in the vegetable garden
Have you checked whether the climate and conditions of the land are favorable? So it’s time to select good garlic cloves and follow the step by step:
- Bury them about 4cm deep, always with the thinnest tip facing up.
- Garlic cloves must be spaced at least 15 cm and 25 cm between rows (ridges).
- Garlics can take up to 8 months to be ready to be harvested. It is necessary to check the correct time to stop irrigation completely 20 days in advance.
How to plant garlic in a pot
How to plant garlic at home if there is no land space? Very simple! Plant the garlic in pots. To do this, you will need:
- Vases;
- Substrate with nutrients (soil);
- Gravel for the garden;
- Garlic cloves;
- Water.
The step by step on how to plant garlic in pots is simple:
- Place a small amount of garden gravel in the pot, forming a draining layer through which the water will drain;
- With a shovel, place the substrate with nutrients, with an indentation of approximately 5 cm from the edge of the pot;
- Make some holes in the substrate 2 or 2.5 centimeters deep;
- Place a clove of garlic in each hole, with the thinnest part facing up;
- Cover the hole with more substrate;
- Position the pot in an area with plenty of direct sunlight;
- Finally, water (irrigation should take place every 10-15 days or when the soil is dry).
- Remember to keep track of when the harvest will take place to stop watering 20 days in advance.
How to plant garlic in pet bottles
Growing vegetable gardens in pet bottles has become a good solution for those who do not have so much space and value sustainable habits. Simple, inexpensive, easy and efficient, this type of vegetable garden fits in any corner and can be mounted both horizontally and in the form of a vertical garden.
But, after all, how to plant garlic in a pet bottle? The cultivation procedure is the same as what we have seen here, with the difference that the support structure is the PET bottle. You will need:
- Pet bottle;
- Knife, scissors or stylus;
- Substrate with nutrients (soil);
- Gravel for the garden;
- Garlic cloves;
- Water.
The step by step on how to plant garlic is also basically the same:
- Cut the pet bottle in half and make some holes in the bottom, where the water will drain;
- Place a small amount of garden gravel in the bottle, thus forming a draining layer through which the water will drain;
- With a shovel, place the substrate with nutrients;
- Make some holes in the substrate 2 or 2.5 centimeters deep;
- Place a clove of garlic in each hole, with the thinnest part facing up;
- Fully cover the hole with more substrate;
- Position the bottle lying down in an area with plenty of direct sunlight;
- Finally, water (irrigation should take place every 10-15 days or when the soil is dry).
- Always remember to keep track of when the harvest will take place to stop watering 20 days in advance.
How to plant leeks
Also known as leek, leeks are a vegetable that, like onions and other types of garlic, belongs to the Liliaceae family.
Leeks are a biennial plant although they are usually grown as an annual plant. Unlike garlic, it grows best in mild weather, with temperatures between 13 ° C and 24 ° C.
Tip! Taking care to keep the soil moist, leeks can be planted in regions with warmer weather, especially in the months of February to June. In cold places, it can be cultivated at all times of the year.
In the first year, leeks produce only leaves. The flowers bloom only in the following year and are very beautiful as an ornament. They are very resistant and rustic plants, whose edible part, the stalk, has a cylindrical and etiolated shape, with an enlarged base.
See below the step by step how to plant leeks:
- Make a previous analysis of the soil and prepare it to present good drainage, ideal characteristics of fertility, organic matter and pH between 6 to 6.8.
- The planting of leeks is done by seeds, which are sown approximately 1 cm deep, in the final place or in sowing. In the latter case, the transplant is done when the seedlings are 10 to 20 cm tall, approximately two months after sowing.
- If you prefer to plant the leeks in pots, choose those that are at least 25 cm deep.
- Being between 10 to 20 cm in height, about two months after sowing, the transplant must be carried out to the final location.
- The seedlings must be almost completely buried in the soil, showing only the visible foliage.
- Take care that a spacing of 30 to 50 cm between the lines and 15 to 20 cm between the plants is respected.
- Keep the soil moist and clean the area, removing invasive plants if necessary.
- Harvesting can be carried out between 120 and 150 days after planting. Choose plants with pseudostems that are 2.5 to 4 cm in diameter and pull them out completely.
How about our tips on how to plant garlic?
Simple and practical, isn’t it? Do you also know tips on how to grow a spice garden at home? Share with us in the comments!
