Growing garlic is both an art and a science requiring a blend of knowledge, skill, and luck. As one of the most sought-after crops, garlic is widely adopted in all cuisines because it enhances the food's flavor profile and is also known for its medicinal and health benefits, making it a popular choice among farmers to grow.
Whether you're new to garlic farming or looking to refine your techniques, mastering garlic cultivation is crucial for success. Our holy grail to growing garlic on a commercial scale draws insights from the “Growing Garlic in Ontario” workshop hosted by OMFRA, feedback from Nurture Growth Biofertilizer garlic farmers, years of hands-on experience, and extensive reading on garlic production. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to ensure your garlic crop thrives, from planting to storage.
Garlic Seed Bed Preparation
The foundation for growing any healthy garlic begins with healthy soil and proper seedbed preparation. Healthy soil sets the stage for healthy root development and vigorous garlic bulb growth. Before seedbed preparation, it is recommended to conduct soil testing to determine the micro and macronutrients in the soil, the amount of organic matter in the soil, and the soil texture. Having this information will help you increase your productivity, and reduce your operational costs and any potential unexpected challenges.
Garlic thrives best in well-drained, loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Although some schools of thought in regenerative agriculture practices discourage tilling, it is important to break up clumps, and remove large rocks, weeds, and debris because they hinder root growth. Incorporating organic matter such as compost or manure is essential because it improves soil structure.
Another way to increase organic matter is to use biofertilizer products such as Nurture Growth Biofertilizer. Nurture Growth Bublis is an all-in-one biofertilizer, biostimulant, and bioinoculant product in one formula. It helps to make nutrients bioavailable by fixating atmospheric nitrogen and unlocking phosphorus and potassium in the soil. It also helps plants withstand abiotic stresses as well as adding beneficial microbes to the soil which increases organic matter.
Allow the soil to settle for a few days before planting to prevent compacting issues and ensure that the soil is in the best condition to support the growth of healthy robust garlic bulbs.
Obtaining High-Quality Garlic Seed
Obtaining high-quality seed garlic is essential for a successful and productive crop. The term "seed garlic" refers to the individual cloves or bulbs used for planting, rather than seeds in the traditional sense. Choosing the right seed garlic involves selecting healthy, disease-free cloves that will give your crop the best possible start.
In Ontario, the Garlic Clean Seed Program (CSP) was developed to produce clean seed roundels that are free from all known garlic pathogens including viruses, fungi, bacteria, and mites. To learn more about CSP, click here.
It is important to source garlic seeds from reputable suppliers who specialize in disease-free stock. It is NOT recommended to use grocery store garlic to grow garlic on a commercial scale because it might not be suited for your local growing condition. When selecting a seed, look for firm cloves; have an intact basal plate; free of holes, scabs, lesions, nicks, or bruises; and free from any fungal, or mold growth on cloves or neck. Keep your garlic seeds cool and dry until planting time because exposure to moisture or high temperatures can reduce viability.
Planting Density, Clove Depth, and Placement of Garlic
Planting density is important in growing garlic because it influences bulb size, yield, and overall crop health. Proper spacing allows each garlic plant enough room to develop fully without competing excessively for nutrients, water, or sunlight
Choosing planting density optimizes growth and yield. Below are the various densities of farms in Ontario with the average bolded, information collected by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness (OMAFA).
Source – Growing Garlic in Ontario Production and Pest Management by OMAFA
In addition to row and planting spacing, it is important to plant cloves at the correct depth with the pointed end facing up about 3-5 cm (1-2 inches) deep. However, there are garlic farmers who plant 2 to 3 inches deep depending on weather and farm location. Garlic farms further north in colder conditions plant cloves deeper to protect cloves from extreme cold conditions.
Overwintering and Garlic
Garlic is typically planted in the fall about 4 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes and requires a period of cold dormancy to trigger bulb formation. However, growers in Ontario plant from mid-September to mid-October and often see growth above the soil in the fall where the cloves start establishing roots.
Nurture Growth Bulbis contains a consortium of microbes that are essential to increase yield and improve the quality of garlic bulbs. In addition to making NPK bioavailable to the garlic bulb, Nurture Growth Bulbis also contains mycorrhizae which is essential for root development and increasing the bulb size. The microbes help to store the nutrients in the bulb during the dormancy stage and build resiliency against the cold weather. Farmers may choose to plant in the spring, however, the garlic may fail to bulb if it lacks a long photoperiod or no vernalization (cold period).
Overwintering garlic involves protecting the crop from harsh winter conditions while ensuring it receives the necessary cold exposure. In colder climates, mulch heavily with straw or leaves after planting to insulate the cloves and prevent heaving caused by freeze-thaw cycles. In milder climates, a lighter mulch can be used to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
Garlic Fertility
Garlic as a crop is considered a heavy feeder meaning it requires large quantities of nutrients throughout the season to grow robust, high-quality crops. Micro and macronutrients exist within the soil at varying amounts, therefore, it is recommended to conduct soil testing before planting to determine which nutrients are in the soil.
Below is an excerpt from the Nurture Growth Bulbis brochure that explains the importance of NKP for growing garlic.
Secondary nutrients such as Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Sulfur (S) are also important for garlic health. Calcium supports cell wall strength, magnesium is crucial for photosynthesis, and sulfur aids in protein synthesis. Boron (B), Zinc (Zn), and Iron (Fe) for optimal growth, though these are usually present in sufficient amounts in well-balanced soils.
Nurture Growth Bulbis can serve as a standalone fertility program or complement a grower’s existing input plan. This biofertilizer is designed to enhance garlic growth through its consortium of microbes. These microbes fix atmospheric nitrogen and unlock phosphorus and potassium in the soil, making it an effective primary input or an excellent addition to your current fertilization strategy.
Nurture Growth Bulblis Application Guideline
Initial Application: Apply Nurture Growth Bulbis in the furrow during planting. This sets up your garlic with essential nutrients right from the start.
Spring Application: Make a second application in the spring, as the garlic sprouts begin to emerge from the soil. This helps to support early growth and development.
Ongoing Applications: Continue with bi-weekly applications throughout the growing season. The final application should be made 2 to 3 weeks before harvest to ensure optimal nutrient balance as the bulbs mature.
The benefits of using Nurture Growth Bulbis fix atmospheric nitrogen and release phosphorus and potassium from the soil, improving nutrient availability. In addition, it also helps to balance the soil microbiome to enhance nutrients while maintaining a balanced soil ecosystem, preventing the overproduction of nutrients.
Using Nurture Growth Bulbis ensures that your garlic plants receive a steady supply of essential nutrients throughout their growth cycle, leading to healthier plants and improved yields. If using synthetic fertilizers, apply a balanced fertilizer or compost as a side dressing when the shoots are around 6 inches tall. Avoid over-fertilizing later in the season, as this can lead to excessive leaf growth and smaller bulbs.
Garlic Scape Removal
Source – Farmers Almanac
Removing garlic scape is an important step in growing garlic because it will help with optimal bulb development and plant health, and redirects the plant’s energy from flower production to bulb production which results in larger and more uniform bulbs. It also improves the quality because the garlic scape competes with the bulb for nutrients and moisture. Removing them also makes harvesting easier and more efficient because garlic scapes can be tough. Lastly, garlic scapes are edible and can add a mild garlic flavour to meals.
Garlic scapes emerge about 4 to 6 weeks before harvest and can be identified by the form of a loop or curl before they straighten or produce a flowerhead.
Harvesting Garlic
Garlic is ready to harvest when more than 50% of leaves have yellowed with the lower leaves dying back. In Ontario, most varieties are mature by mid-July, so it is important not to harvest too early because it will reduce storage life. Harvesting late may cause the sheath to split which doesn’t look aesthetically pleasing and can not be sold at a premium.
It is recommended to remove harvested garlic away from direct sunlight as soon as possible.
Traditionally, garlic was hand-harvested which is labour intensive taking approximately 20-50 hours per acre. However, with modern-day innovations, harvesting can be reduced to 1.5 to 20 hours.
Although the technology improves harvesting efficiency, it also comes with a hefty price tag and has some challenges. The four-row garlic harvester reduces harvesting time to 1.5 hours but also costs $100,000 per machine and still requires two labourers. Farmers are recommended to calculate the return on investment (ROI) before investing in capital-intensive equipment.
Source – YuriyS from Getty Image
Cleaning and Curing Garlic
Cleaning garlic is an essential step to ensuring the bulb is free from soil, and debris and to avoid spreading of disease during storage. After harvesting, remove excess dirt from the bulb using a soft brush or cloth.
In large garlic cultivation, a mechanical cleaning system is used. Once the bulbs are cleaned, the curing process begins which generally takes 2 to 3 weeks for the outer layer to dry and the neck to tighten. Proper curing helps to seal the bulbs, protecting them from moisture and extending their shelf life.
Storing Garlic
Once cured, garlic should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark environment with good air circulation. Ideal storage conditions are temperatures between 0.5 degrees Celsius or 15 to 16 degrees Celsius at 55-65% humidity.
There are different types of storage methods but some are more costly than others which include:
High CO2 (5-10%)will slow down sprout development
Irradiation (0.1 kGy) to inhibit sprouting and sterilize microorg
Properly stored garlic can last for several months, allowing you to supply the market or your kitchen throughout the year.
Contact us to learn more!
Biography
Le is a dynamic and accomplished business professional with a diverse background in strategic planning, marketing, sales, and business management. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated a track record of success, excelling in various leadership roles and earning recognition for her outstanding achievements and contributions.
Le has been honored with prestigious awards such as the Mississauga Board of Trade's Businessperson of the Year, Registered Professional Accountant Women's Entrepreneur Award, and Innovation Guelph Pitch Competition winner.
Currently serving as the CEO of Nurture Growth Biofertilizer, Le's company has also garnered accolades, including the MBOT Environment Sustainability Award and the OSEA Green Energy Doors Open Award. Furthermore, her entrepreneurial prowess has been acknowledged by Disruption Magazine, which featured her start-up as one to watch.
Resources
EFFECT OF NPK AND SOME BIOFERTILIZERS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF GARLIC PLANTS (ekb.eg)
Improving Crop Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency via Biofertilization—A Global Meta-analysis
Garlic Biological Product Trial 2017-2018 Results – ONvegetables
Growing Garlic Workshop – hosted by OMFRA
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