How deep should garlic be planted for the winter?

Shallow or deep

How deep to plant garlic is one of the first questions people ask before planting it for the winter. The key is to plant it deep enough to prevent it from freezing, but not too deep, as the garlic only needs to establish roots to survive the winter safely.

Maximum planting depth is 15 cm. As a rule, it is enough to embed the teeth to a depth of 5-10 cm. Avoid pressing the cloves too tightly into the soil, as this can damage the roots. An alternative planting method is to make a hole for each clove with a stick. It's also important to remember that each region has its own specific planting depth. If this is your first time planting garlic, it's best to consult with experienced gardeners about the appropriate depth for winter garlic in your area.

Planting dates

Some gardeners believe that if the crop begins growing in the fall, it won't be affected by the winter. This may be true, but it's better not to risk the harvest. The most important thing about planting garlic before winter is to give it time to take root without developing green stems. Planting should begin 3-4 weeks before the expected significant cold snap.

If winter is approaching and the optimal time for winter planting has been missed, don't worry. Simply planting the cloves 20 cm deep will prevent the plant from freezing. However, it's worth noting that this method may reduce harvest yields.

Soil preparation

The key to a successful wintering is properly prepared soil. Begin preparing the beds two weeks before planting. This time is necessary for the soil to settle. The bed height should be approximately 25 cm.

You need to dig up the soil and add one bucket of humus or compost per cubic meter of soil, then level it with a rake.

Mark out the beds using a rope and several stakes driven into the edges of the bed. It's best to use a spade to make the holes—this will help you accurately determine the planting depth. To do this, mark the spade at 12 and 15 cm intervals, starting from the tip. For beds with small and medium-sized cloves, make 12-centimeter holes; for larger cloves, a 15-centimeter depth is appropriate.

Preparation of planting material

First, you should make sure that the selected planting material meets several conditions:

• its storage was organized correctly;
• it was grown in the same region where it is planned to be planted;
• All the cloves intended for planting were of the same variety and grew on healthy plants.

A larger and better harvest can be achieved by planting only the largest garlic cloves, as they germinate much better than smaller cloves. Before planting, soak them in a solution of copper sulfate or potassium permanganate for 24 hours. The latter is easy to prepare: dissolve manganese crystals in water until the water turns pink. The copper sulfate solution is prepared by adding 1 tablespoon of powder to 10 liters of water. This will not only disinfect the planting material but also increase the crop's immunity to a wide range of fungal diseases.

Some tricks

The main subtlety of planting garlic is that you cannot plant this crop twice in the same place, as this will lead to a decrease in the yield. The best option is to plant winter garlic in the place where onions previously grew.

It's also worth knowing that garlic prefers neutral, light soil with a high sand content. This is because sand prevents the garlic from rotting due to meltwater infiltration. Avoid fertilizing winter garlic with fresh cow manure, which is highly acidic and contains nitrogen.

Video “Planting winter garlic”

This video will teach you how to plant winter crops and how deep to plant garlic.