If the gardener is wondering whether to cut off the arrows from the garlic or not, then he must first find out why this is done and how. Usually, in the middle of the summer period, winter garlic releases flowering shoots, which have been called "arrows" for a long time. They produce high-quality seeds, but on the other hand, the plant is forced to give these shoots a lot of useful substances, which leads to a poor harvest of garlic.
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Removing arrows
There is no accurate and reliable information on when to get rid of arrows, because the opinions of gardeners on this issue are diverse. Some believe that the procedure must be carried out when peduncles begin to appear. Their growth should not affect how leaves and bulbs are formed, but if removed early it will not stop shoot development. It will grow and rush upward even with a missing head, so after a certain period, you need to cut it off again.
Another category of gardeners believes that it is necessary to eliminate the arrows when they begin the twisting process. In this case, you do not have to cut them several times, but if the shoots twist, by this period they will have already taken away from the garlic a sufficient amount of necessary nutrients, which will certainly affect the development and growth of culture, as well as the future harvest.
In order to avoid various problems, it is recommended to remove unnecessary garlic shoots at a time when they reach a length of about 10-15 cm. At this stage of growth, the arrows will not have time to pick up nutrients from the bulb and will no longer grow vigorously further.
Correct arrow trimming
When removing shoots, the plant should not be harmed, so the procedure must be carried out carefully. Do not pull out the arrows - such actions will lead to the early death of the garlic, because they will damage its root or stem. The most gentle methods are to break out or pinch off the shoot at the very base. However, this method can also be painful - the cut site is most often uneven and heals for a long time.
The best way is to take large scissors, pruning shears, or a sharp knife and carefully cut the shoot about 1 cm from the base. It is recommended to delete arrows in the morning on a sunny day. The cut will dry quickly in the sun, which will prevent infection of the garlic.
With each season the plant becomes smaller and poorer, so every few years it must be renewed so that the yield remains high. This can be done using small bulbs that grow on peduncles. Winter garlic produces bulbs in large quantities and they are a good material for sowing.
In summer, it is recommended to leave a small number of arrows to ripen so that they are ready for planting in the spring. They will curl at first and then gradually become straight (towards the end of summer). At this time, you should harvest, tie the plants in bunches and hang them to dry. After the stem is dry, cut off the bulbs, wrap them in paper and store them in a dry and warm place. In the middle of winter, it is recommended to put the bulbs in the refrigerator. This should happen a month and a half before planting. Before planting, you need to dry them well and treat them with a transparent solution of potassium permanganate. The bulbs are placed in the prepared wells at a distance of about 3 cm from each other. There should be no more than 15 cm between the rows. Then the earth should be watered, thoroughly tamped and mulched.
Cut off shoots do not need to be destroyed. They can be successfully used in the fight against harmful insects, as well as prepare delicious dishes with them - vegetable and meat.
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Read more:Growing winter garlic - everything from planting to harvest