Companies that prepare seeds select the largest cloves and regularly update planting material. It produces large bulbs that are not susceptible to disease, have an attractive appearance, and do not spoil for a long time. Fields and vegetable gardens are planted with Dutch varieties of garlic. Summer residents are satisfied with their yield, farmers grow bulbs for sale, and this product does not languish on the markets.
Description of varieties
Hermidor garlic was developed in Holland, and is now cultivated in different countries. The harvest ripens already in the first summer month or even at the end of May.The head is different:
- purple color of scales;
- round shape;
- weighing from 60 to 90 g.
The stem of Hermidor garlic grows up to 75 cm in length. Each bulb contains 10, or even 15 cloves, arranged in 2 rows. On 1 acre of land, more than half a ton of crop ripens per season.
No less popular among farmers and gardeners is the Messidor variety of garlic, which does not impose any special requirements on the soil. One bush develops up to 12 long leaves of dark green color. The round white head has 14 teeth. It weighs more than 100 grams, there are bulbs weighing 160 g, which contain a lot of ascorbic acid and sugar, and a rich garlic aroma.
The characteristics of Messidor and the description of the size of the heads attracted farmers, and they actually collect more than 20 tons of juicy product with a bitter taste per hectare.
Summer residents who plant this Dutch garlic on their property write rave reviews, in which they claim that several bulbs with a total weight of half a kilogram are collected from one plant. This kind of winter garlic is grown in Russia and Moldova, and it pleases Belarusian and Ukrainian gardeners and farmers with its harvest.
Advantages of varieties
Both Messidor and Germidor take root in different climate conditions, growing on loam, sandy, soddy-podzolic soils, and chernozem. Garlic is grown both in arid steppes and in regions with high humidity. The advantages of Dutch varieties include resistance:
- to bacteriosis;
- black and green mold;
- white rot.
Planted crops can withstand frosts of up to 15 degrees in fields where there is no snow and produce an excellent harvest. The bulbs are perfectly stored until January and do not lose their presentation.The best cloves are selected for seeds; there should be at least 8 of them in one head.
Features of agricultural technology
The planting material needs to be changed every 4 years, otherwise the crop will begin to degenerate, the heads will become small, and the yield will decrease. You need to select a place for the garden bed where the sun shines all day and there is no shadow. Garlic does not tolerate swampy soil, where underground and melt water accumulates.
It is not recommended to plant a varietal plant in an area where bulbous crops, carrots, potatoes, and radishes grew last season. You can’t grow garlic in one place, it will start to hurt and pick up a fungus.
After digging up the soil, which must be done in the fall, the soil is treated with a mixture that is prepared by mixing a gram of boric acid, copper sulfate and potassium permanganate in a liter of water. Some summer residents temporarily cover the garden bed with polyethylene.
Garlic cloves are sorted before planting, diseased seeds are put aside, and healthy ones are soaked in a pink solution of potassium permanganate. The soil is fertilized with humus or dry plant ash, and superphosphate and potassium salt are added.
How are they planted?
On 1 linear meter you need to place 10 seeds. The tines go 5 centimeters deep into the ground; no more than 25 cm should be left between the rows. When growing garlic in clayey and acidic soil, a layer of sand is added to the soil; for this purpose, grooves are dug in it. The seeds are placed with the teeth facing up. The holes are watered and covered with earth.
Planting of Dutch winter varieties of garlic begins in October and continues until mid-November, when the air temperature drops to +5. Sprouts appear already in March.
Features of care
In regions where winter is not pleasant with snow, garlic beds are covered with agrofibre, sprinkled with pine needles, fallen leaves, and mulched with straw, peat, and humus. Caring for garlic includes:
- Soil fertilization. Fertilizing is carried out when sprouts appear, during ripening, and before harvesting.
- Hydration. The crop does not require frequent watering; water is needed only during drought.
- Weeding and weed removal.
- Loosening the soil. The soil is saturated with oxygen necessary for plant development.
Germidor garlic ripens earlier than the Messidor variety. However, the timing of harvest is affected by weather conditions. On cool rainy days, the bulbs ripen later. In order to preserve the taste, you need to ensure that the head does not break up into teeth; you need to pay attention to the condition of the scales and inflorescences. If the lower leaves turn yellow, it's time to dig up the garlic.
