Planting podzimny garlic is an important and responsible business. Correctly prepared planting material, well-chosen place and planting dates will allow the plant to successfully overwinter and, with the onset of spring, go into active growth. But, unfortunately, it is not uncommon for the prongs planted in time to suddenly sprout without waiting for the winter cold and snow. Today I will tell you how you can save a sprouted garlic bed so that in the next season you can still collect the long-awaited and high-quality harvest.
The main reasons for the appearance of unwanted shoots
- Are the deadlines met?
Depending on the depth of the cloves embedded in the ground, the timing of the winter planting of garlic is also determined. With deeper embedding, the plant is planted in the beds in mid-September. When planting at a shallow depth (3-5 cm), the first frost is expected. If these rules are not followed and when planted earlier, the garlic has time not only to properly take root in the soil until a stable cold snap, but also to go into active growth.
- Looking for other reasons
If the timing of the autumn planting is correctly observed, and sprouts still appear on the surface, then the reason for this is most likely climatic changes in nature. Abnormally warm weather in the middle lane sometimes persists until late autumn. There are also periods of sharp warming both at the beginning and in the middle of winter. According to the laws of nature, plants respond to positive temperature jumps with their growth and active development.
How to avoid premature growth?
- We monitor the weather
In order to keep the garlic seedlings deep in the soil until early spring, I recommend focus on the long-term weather forecast, making some deviations from the usual book dates winter landing. And if unexpectedly warm days are expected at the end of October, it is still advisable to postpone the landing.
- We plant deeper
You should also use a method of deeper planting planting material in the ground. In this case, the chances of protecting the plant from unexpected anomalies of nature increase. So for example, when planting garlic in single cloves, I recommend burying them at least 10 cm. And when landing with heads - not less than 15.
What to do with the sprouts?
If, nevertheless, the garlic germinates before the onset of frost, then it must be remembered that the height of the sprouts not exceeding 10 cm is not considered critical. If the garlic has sprouted more strongly, then, most likely, the sprouted part will not resist the frost and will die out. But trying to save the garden is still worth it.
How to save tender sprouts?
In order for the shoots of garlic not to freeze, they must be immediately mulched. As mulch, you can use straw, humus, peat, leaf litter, hay and spruce needles. As a shelter, I sometimes even take dried plants from flower beds and beds. The thickness of the mulch layer should be 10-15 cm. Leaf litter and straw need additional fixation, as strong gusts of wind can spread them throughout the garden. In order to avoid this, I cover the beds with sprouted garlic with a special covering material and spruce branches. After the snow falls, you can cover the garlic with a layer of it on top. It will create additional shelter from frost.
Growing winter garlic is not difficult at all. And, despite some difficulties, it is the winter garlic that has the best yield and larger head size. If you prepare in time for unexpected changes in nature and qualitatively cover the garden from the wind and frost, then the sprouted garlic will safely survive the winter and with the onset of spring heat will continue its height.
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