Garlic is easy to cultivate and grow. The plants do not require any special care. However, many hobby gardeners make mistakes when fertilizing, resulting in losses in the harvest. The demands of Allium sativum are not as high as is often assumed.
If the soil is enriched with nutrients before planting, no additional fertilization is necessary
Expectations
Garlic is one of the weak to medium consumers. The plants need nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and lime in small amounts. If the supply of nutrients exceeds the needs of the plants, they invest the energy in growth. Leaves and stems grow rampant, so that the tubers also become thicker and the crop yield increases. However, the aroma suffers and the garlic cloves taste less intense.
When fertilization makes sense
In many guidebooks you can read that the herb needs a liquid fertilizer every month during the growth phase. Feeding nutrients in this way is not advisable as it negatively affects the quality of the garlic crop. Additional nutrients in the form of annual composting in the spring are necessary when the herb is growing on depleted topsoil. If you mix the soil yourself, Allium sativum does not need any additional fertilization.
prepare soil
Garlic grows excellently in the bed that was planted with vegetables last season. Make sure you rotate crops. You should not plant the herb in areas where bulbous plants from the same family have been cultivated. A high-quality universal soil or a self-prepared substrate is recommended for growing in pots.
Preparation instructions:
- compost exhausted potting soil
- mix mature compost with sand
- do not add horn meal and pellets made from sheep's wool or horse manure
This substrate is suitable both for garlic in pots and for improving the bed soil. It ensures a loose structure so that the irrigation water can drain off easily. The organic substances act as long-term fertilizers because soil organisms decompose the material over time.
Administer plant manure
If the garlic plants show signs of deficiency in the form of yellow leaves or leaf tips in spring, you should administer a plant-strengthening brew. Aqueous solutions from stinging nettles provide the herbs with readily available nutrients such as nitrogen and support healthy growth. The administration stops as soon as the growth grows back to health.