Gardeners often make mistakes by watering garlic. This culture is characterized by a fairly simple agricultural technique, but it has special requirements for watering. We learn how and when to pour garlic to get a quality crop.
How to water garlic correctly?
When pouring garlic, consider the size of its heads and features of the root system. The heads of this culture are small, and the roots are poorly developed, so it takes food mainly from the surface soil. In this regard, when watering garlic, a lot of water is required, but pouring it is strictly prohibited. The task of the farmers is to maintain a balance and ensure optimal moisture in the beds.
So that soil moisture does not harm the garlic, and brings maximum benefit, it is important to follow the watering rules:
- If the soil has cooled to + 15 ° C, the moisture will be harmful to the garlic.
- The maximum water temperature for irrigation is + 18 ° C.
- The best way to water your garlic is by drip.
- The best time to water garlic beds is early morning and late evening.
- After watering, when the moisture is absorbed, the soil is loosened to a depth of 2 cm.
- If it rains, watering is canceled.
- If the garlic is grown for long-term storage, then during the period of active growth of the heads, the frequency of watering should be reduced. Then the bulbs will not be as large as during intensive watering, but they will be very lying.
With frequent and heavy irrigation, garlic heads grow very large, but you should not count on their long storage.
How does watering affect the yield of garlic?
Studies have shown that the difference in yield between irrigated and non-irrigated garlic is about 40%. In arid regions, the difference is even higher - with drip irrigation, it is about 70%. The artificial irrigation system maintains optimal soil moisture, and nutrients in the form of solutions go directly to the roots of the garlic.
Sometimes gardeners, carried away, water the garlic more than necessary. But excess moisture can bring irreparable harm to garlic plantings - waterlogging leads to rotting of the heads of garlic.
When to start watering?
As soon as the growing season begins, garlic needs watering. If the spring is rainy, artificial moisture is dispensed with. Typically, the watering season begins in April-May or a little later, when head growth begins. In winter garlic, bulbs grow in May, in spring garlic in July.
In the open field
Watering garlic beds usually begin in April. Garlic leaves begin intensive growth from late April to early May. Until this time, you need to water the beds 2 times already. But only if the weather is dry.
Indoors
When growing garlic in greenhouses, it is watered especially abundantly during the period of active growth. There is no rain (natural) irrigation, so the number of irrigations and water costs are always higher than when grown without shelter. Watering the beds as the soil dries. Usually, the frequency of watering is once every 7-10 days.
Watering Methods
There are several methods for watering garlic, each with their own pros and cons. Among summer residents and gardeners, the manual method of irrigation is often practiced; when growing large volumes, garlic is watered by sprinkling and drip method.
Manual irrigation
This is the most primitive method of watering, which does not require investment, but takes a lot of time and effort. If there are few beds, then the event can be perceived as a small physical exercise.
Advantages of manual watering:
- low cost - no need to spend money on irrigation systems;
- no need to supply water to the beds;
- no dependence on electricity.
Minuses:
- great physical stress on the gardener - if the plantings occupy a significant area;
- you have to move through the plantings, trampling down the aisles;
- the amount of water poured is dosed inaccurately.
Sprinkling
Sprinkling water splashes like rain. Water falls on the planting in the form of drops. To implement this method, special irrigation systems are needed.
Watch a video about watering garlic by sprinkling:
Pros:
- the method allows you to comply with watering rates;
- an accurate and even distribution of moisture between plants is achieved;
- sprinkler systems are mobile;
- different substances can be sprayed with water - for example, pesticides;
- the system does not interfere with cultivating the soil.
Minuses:
- high water costs;
- high cost of the system;
- the need for large energy - to create a water pressure;
- wind affects the quality of irrigation;
- promoting the spread of diseases - due to the evaporation of moisture from the soil surface;
- if the watering norms are exceeded, secondary soil salinization is possible - it will negatively affect the quality of garlic;
- low efficiency on heavy soils and in dry climates;
- there is a risk of negative effects on the leaves - sprinkling can provoke mineralization or disease.
Drip irrigation
There are two types of drip irrigation:
- surface (ground);
- subsoil (underground).
Surface drip irrigation system. The water is supplied through pipes with dosing droppers directly to the plants. The tube system is laid out right on the ground - in close proximity to garlic.
Pros of ground drip irrigation:
- less water consumption than during sprinkling;
- less moisture evaporation;
- alternative irrigation schemes can be used - small water rates at short intervals;
- no burns on leaves from water drops.
Disadvantages of surface irrigation:
- it is necessary to replace watering tapes every 2-3 years;
- labor intensity of work during the layout, collection and repair of tapes;
- clogged droppers.
Below is a video of garlic drip irrigation:
Subsoil irrigation method. It is a stationary system designed for long-term use. The principle of its operation practically does not differ from the functioning of the ground system, the only difference is in its location. Tubes with thickened walls are laid underground. In addition, emitters are used to prevent root penetration into the holes.
Advantages of subsurface irrigation:
- does not interfere with tillage;
- you do not have to lay and assemble the system every year;
- water and nutrients are delivered directly to plant roots.
Cons of subsoil irrigation:
- it is difficult to diagnose a breakdown of the emitter - a miniature dropper;
- complexity of repair;
- high cost of the system - it is more expensive than ground.
The yield of garlic is the same when using ground and underground drip irrigation systems.
The optimal level of humidity depends on the period of growth of garlic. The table shows approximate irrigation rates calculated for drip irrigation of winter garlic on medium loamy soils. Landing pattern - 60 + 20 x 6 cm.
Development phase | Pre-irrigation humidity,% | Control depth, cm | The average daily moisture consumption, cubic m per 1 ha | Irrigation rate, cubic meters m per 1 ha |
Fall | 70 | 25-30 | — | 65-80 |
From seedlings to the 3rd leaf | 80 | 15-20 | 7-16 | 35-40 |
From the 3rd to the 5th leaf | 80 | 15-20 | 15-23 | 35-40 |
5th to 8th leaf | 80 | 20-25 | 30-57 | 65-80 |
From the appearance of arrows to the drying of leaves | 70 | 20-25 | 27-47 | 65-80 |
From massive leaf drying to harvest | 60 | 20-25 | 9-31 | 25-40 |
Watering frequency and features
In order for the heads of garlic to ripen large, have good keeping quality and taste, it is necessary to follow the rules for watering garlic. When choosing the frequency and rate of irrigation, the ripening period and specific weather conditions should be taken into account.
At the beginning of growth
From the moment seedlings appear to the formation of cloves, garlic needs high-quality hydration. At the beginning of the growing season, garlic is watered abundantly to a depth of 30 cm. The recommended frequency of watering is once every 7-8 days. In early May, garlic beds are watered along with top dressing.
When ripening
When the garlic begins to ripen, its heads grow actively, watering becomes more frequent. The recommended frequency of watering during the growth period of the bulbs is once every 5 days. Or more often, depending on the weather. If the weather is hot, windy, the beds are watered every 3 days.
When to stop watering?
To keep the garlic well stored and distinguished by high commercial qualities, experienced gardeners stop watering before harvesting. The time of the last watering depends on the purpose of the garlic:
- Garlic intended for current use is no longer watered 7 days before the garlic is pulled out of the soil.
- If the garlic is to be laid for long-term storage, watering is stopped 15-20 days before harvesting.
How to combine watering with top dressing?
Experts recommend combining irrigation with fertilizer:
- When 3-4 leaves appear in garlic, a urea solution is prepared - a tablespoon is placed on the bucket. Or the same amount of Agricola Vegeta fertilizer. The solution is poured into a watering can and poured over the garlic beds. Consumption rate - 2-3 liters per 1 sq. m.
- 2-3 weeks after the first feeding, garlic is watered with a solution of nitrophoska or nitroammofoski. To prepare a solution, 2 tbsp. Are bred in a bucket of water. l. this or that fertilizer. For 1 square. m consume 3-4 liters of solution.
- The final top dressing is carried out during the formation of the garlic heads, therefore, the period for its implementation depends on the characteristics of the variety and on the climate of a particular area. During watering, the garlic is fed by adding a superphosphate solution. For its preparation, superphosphate (2 tbsp. L.) Is dissolved in a bucket of water. m garlic beds spend 4-5 liters of solution.
Watering garlic salt
Watering garlic with a salt solution helps scare away pests and saturates the soil with useful minerals. Sprinkle the garlic with saline in the phase of 3-5 leaves. Recipes for the preparation of saline solutions:
- Against root nematodes. Take 50 g of salt (2 tablespoons) per 10 liters of water. This amount of solution is enough for 2 square meters. m of beds. After 1.5 weeks, watering is repeated.
- Against onion flies. A solution of higher concentration is prepared - they are sprayed with leaves. Take 250 g of salt (10 tablespoons) in a bucket of water.
After watering the garlic with salt, the beds are watered with clean water. Use the saline solution carefully - if the soil is high in sodium and chlorine, this will negatively affect plant growth.
How to find out the soil moisture in garlic beds?
In order not to get confused with watering, and to moisten garlic plantings in time, gardeners can use a moisture meter. This device measures soil moisture. If it shows that soil moisture is less than 70%, it's time to water the garlic plantings. If there is no moisture meter, you can use the old old-fashioned method for determining moisture.
Taking a handful of earth in your hand - from a depth of 10 cm, squeeze it. Opening your palm, determine the moisture content of the soil by its condition:
- For closed ground:
- if there are fingerprints on the ground - 70%;
- if the lump has crumbled - 60% (it's time to water);
- if drops of liquid have appeared on the ground - more than 80%.
- For open ground:
- no clod is formed from the soil - 60% (it's time to water);
- a clod of dense structure is formed - more than 90%;
- a dense lump is formed, when pressed, the palm becomes wet - 80%;
- lump is formed, but when pressed falls apart - 70-75%.
Watering errors
Even experienced gardeners can make mistakes when watering garlic:
- Watering during the day. Do not water the garlic during the sun. The bright sun negatively affects the wet leaves, burns may appear.
- Moisture on the leaves. When watering garlic, you should avoid getting water on the aerial part of the plants. This is not to say that garlic is especially sensitive to this method of watering, but at high temperatures, the risk of fungal diseases increases.
- Frequent watering with a small amount of water. With such an irrigation scheme, water cannot penetrate deep into the soil and will be available only to those plants whose roots are located in the upper soil layer. Water, being close to the surface of the earth, will quickly evaporate, and garlic will receive less moisture. As a result, a developed root system will not form, capable of absorbing moisture from the depths.
- Watering with a strong stream. Due to the high pressure, leaves and thin stalks of garlic can be damaged. This damage, which is not visible to the eye, can lead to reduced yields. Damaged leaves and stems run the risk of causing a fungal infection. Therefore, it is not recommended to water the garlic with a hose; it is better to use a watering can. And although it is more difficult and more time is wasted, but the garlic will be healthy, and its heads will be large.
- Late watering. Sprinkle garlic too late. If the soil does not have time to dry out before nightfall, favorable conditions for the development of fungi will appear.
Proper watering - in the right amount and with the correct frequency, not only increases the productivity of garlic, but also the quality of the garlic heads. When determining the norms and frequency of irrigation, take into account the needs of the crop in water, as well as regional climate characteristics and current weather.
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Russia. City Novosibirsk
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