Tricks for planting garlic in autumn: from choosing the bed to companion plants. Everything about important moments and optimal combinations in the garden.

Winter garlic is one of the most popular crops among gardeners of all ages and nations. Successful garlic cultivation largely depends on the proper preparation of the bed. Garlic is a valuable, beneficial, and important crop that does not forgive any careless treatment.

Garlic has been cultivated for thousands of years in different parts of the world. Today, China is the leader in industrial garlic production. The difference between imported and homegrown garlic is noticeable. So, let's learn some tips about planting winter garlic in the fall.

You probably know that Egyptian workers who built the pyramids were given garlic daily to provide strength. And although we don't need to build pyramids, growing our own garlic has many advantages: safe and healthy food, money savings, natural pest control, and ease of care, provided the right start is made in winter conditions.

To get large cloves, it is best to plant garlic in the fall. Garlic roots develop in autumn and winter, before the soil freezes, and the leaves will appear by early spring. The first harvest can be collected in July.

The purpose of planting winter garlic in the fall is to give the plant enough time to develop roots before the frosts, but not enough time for the top growth to develop before negative temperatures arrive.

Based on these considerations, the planting time is determined by weather conditions in the season. If the fall is too warm, it's better to wait. It's also better not to plant during rainy periods (increased risk of rot). Winter garlic is usually planted in October, mostly in the middle or end of the month.

How to Prepare the Bed for Planting Winter Garlic

Ideally, bed preparation should begin in advance by choosing a plot where other plants from the onion family were not grown this year and preparing the site for convenient planting for both yourself and the garlic.

Garlic prefers fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7. Raised beds 30 cm high are convenient, with compost manure, bone or fish meal, and complex fertilizers added on top (15 cm). Deep watering should be done, followed by covering with a 5 cm thick mulch.

After treating the soil, avoid walking on the bed to prevent compaction and maintain its drainage properties.

Photos from open sources.

Raised beds allow you to get double the vegetables compared to regular beds. This is due to several factors: looser soil, denser plant placement, and a favorable environment. The soil on raised beds is more loose, promoting better root development.

Instead of constantly dealing with clayey, sandy, highly acidic, or strongly alkaline soil, it is enough to make a fertile top layer.

Additionally, raised beds simplify garden care and make it a pleasant rather than a painful process. Some gardeners even place benches on both sides of the bed!

After Harvesting the Predecessor of Garlic, Plant a Cover Crop

Who wants to spend time weeding?

Mustard before planting winter garlic is an excellent choice! By sowing mustard on the beds, in 2 weeks you will see a green wall with almost no weeds. Mustard grows very quickly, and weeds have no chance.

Mustard seeds germinate quickly.

Photos from open sources.

Spread the seeds on loosened soil and press them down with the backside of a rake. After budding, you can harvest greens that will have a milder taste than summer-harvested greens.

Mustard greens tolerate light frosts, but at temperatures below -7°C, they die. Before this happens, remove the greens and bury their roots and stems in the soil. Mustard roots and stems suppress nematodes and some common plant pathogens.

Whether you use mustard as a cover crop or not, the bed for planting winter garlic should be prepared a week before planting so the soil has time to settle.

Companion Plants for Winter Garlic: 2 Crops in One Bed

If you want to optimize space in your area, you can use companion planting of different crops.

The only difficulty in choosing companion plants for garlic is that winter garlic is planted from autumn to mid-summer, while most vegetable crops are planted in spring. This requires preliminary planning for companion planting.

Garlic and Strawberries

Photos from open sources.

In one study, scientists compared the effects of different green neighbors on spider mites on strawberries. Cultures such as garlic, coriander, fennel, oregano, and sweet marjoram were considered. Garlic showed the best results.

When dense rows of garlic were placed between the strawberry rows, the number of spider mites decreased by 44-65%. If you already have strawberries growing on raised beds, you won't need to look for a new place for garlic. Straw can also be used as mulch for both crops.

Garlic and Cabbage

Photos from open sources.

Garlic "invigorates" beneficial soil microbes with special substances. This quality can be used for cabbage grown from seedlings. Garlic also repels the cabbage moth, which lays eggs on the leaves and damages the crop.

Determine the place for cabbage seedlings in spring and plant rows of garlic a meter away from the future cabbage line in the fall.

Garlic and Oats

Photos from open sources.

Turning back to cover crops, we highlight the low-maintenance oats.

Oats can be sown together with garlic. The plants will grow to the ankles until they perish from frost and create a natural mulch that enriches the soil with nitrogen. Oat roots help prevent erosion.