How to Grow Chinese Garlic

Abstract
 
This article introduces typical methods used in China to grow garlic. Soil selection, planting season, fertilizer application, and disease and pest control methods are also discussed.
 
Chinese garlic should be planted in fertile, loose sandy soil with good water drainage. The planting period should be between mid-August and mid-September. If growing green garlic sprouts, garlic seeds should be sown before mid-August; if growing garlic bulbs and scapes, seeds may be sown in late August or early September.
 
Before sowing, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied. Normally, 2,000+ kg of well-composted livestock manure (e.g., pig, sheep, or duck manure), 30 kg of superphosphate, and 5 kg of potassium sulfate should be spread per mu (666 m²). For acidic soil, an additional 50-70 kg of slaked lime should be applied to adjust the soil pH. After ploughing the fallow land, smooth the soil with a rake, then form small plots. Each plot (including ditches) should be 1.4 m wide. Before sowing, use 100 g of 50% prometryn powder dissolved in water to control weeds.
 
Green garlic sprouts can usually be harvested from October to the following March, garlic scapes from March to April, and garlic bulbs from April to May. About 50-70 kg of garlic seeds may be sown per mu. Garlic cloves should be graded by size to ensure uniform growth of sprouts. The spacing between rows and plants should be 10 cm × 15 cm, and the planting depth should be just enough to cover the cloves with soil. After sowing, cover the soil with pig manure or rice straw, spread diluted human waste, and then water the area to maintain soil moisture and promote sprouting. Seedlings usually emerge within 10-15 days.
 
Garlic requires abundant fertilizer. Topdressing should begin once sprouts reach 3–5 cm in height. Every 15 days, 1,000 grams of human waste or 10 grams of urea should be applied per mu, and this process should be repeated 3-4 times. Two months after sprouting, start harvesting green garlic sprouts gradually until March; normally, over 1,000 kg of green sprouts can be obtained per mu. After each harvest of green sprouts, an additional topdressing is needed. In early March and late March, apply 15 kg of urea per mu with irrigation to promote the growth of garlic scapes and bulbs.
 
The main diseases affecting garlic are white rot, leaf blight, and purple blotch. If these diseases occur, dilute 70% thiophanate-methyl or 50% carbendazim in water and drench the soil. The main pests are garlic maggots, onion thrips, etc. To prevent garlic maggots, use a 500-fold dilution of 50% phoxim to drench the roots; to control onion thrips, use 40% dimethoate emulsion or 80% dichlorvos (DDVP) emulsion.
 
From April to June, when garlic bulbs begin to expand, apply fertilizer and water appropriately until the late stage of bulb expansion. After that, pay attention to field drainage to prevent bulb splitting caused by garlic skin rot. Garlic scapes can be harvested once they extend 10 cm beyond the leaf sheath; normally, about 200 kg of scapes can be obtained per mu. When garlic leaves turn withered and yellow, select a sunny day to pull up the entire garlic plants, bundle them into sheaves, and hang them in a cool, shaded area to dry before sale.