Garlic Plant Nutrition Guide
Garlic Plant Nutrition Guide
Garlic is a long-season crop, typically taking 6 to 9 months to mature, so understanding how to feed your garlic crop is crucial for producing large, healthy bulbs while reducing the risk of pests and diseases. In this guide, we'll explore the key aspects of garlic plant nutrition, from the right types of fertilisers to the ideal feeding schedule.
The Nutritional Needs of Garlic
Garlic is quite a demanding crop, so it needs a good supply of nutrients throughout its growing cycle to thrive. The key nutrients garlic needs are:
- Nitrogen (N): Promotes leaf growth and overall vigour. It's particularly important during the vegetative stage in early Spring when the plant is developing its foliage.
- Phosphorus (P): Supports root development and energy transfer, essential for bulb formation.
- Potassium (K): Enhances overall plant health, improves disease resistance, and is vital for bulb size and quality.
- Sulphur (S): Helps to increase the yield and the quality, but it also helps to increase the uptake of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium
- Calcium (Ca): Strengthens cell walls, contributing to the structural integrity of the plant and reducing susceptibility to diseases.
- Magnesium (Mg): A critical component of chlorophyll, magnesium supports photosynthesis and overall growth.
- Copper: Copper is very important for youth growth and it also helps to strengthen the immune system of the plant.
- Manganese: Manganese is responsible for the transport of the metabolites produced in the leaves to the reserve organs, in this case the tuber.
When and How to Feed Garlic
To ensure your garlic plants receive the right nutrients at the right times, it's essential to follow a strategic feeding schedule:
Pre-Planting: Soil Preparation
- Timing: Before planting in Autumn or Spring
- Fertiliser: Preferably incorporate well rotted manure or well made compost into the soil, these enrich the soil with organic matter, nutrients and microorganisms. Aim for about 2.5-5 kg per 10 square metres. You can also use Topmix 4-3-7 or the Vegan Fertiliser 5-3-8 in Autumn at approx 1-1.5kg/10m2. The Topmix and Vegan fertiliser will have the necessary trace elements.
Early Growth Stage: Nitrogen Boost
- Timing: In early Spring, February/March
- Fertiliser: Apply a nitrogen-rich fertiliser, such as; Combi High N-K Fertiliser, High Nitrogen Fertiliser, Topmix Organic Nitrogen Fertiliser at a rate of about 1.2 kg per 10 square metres This will support leaf growth, which is essential for energy production and bulb formation.
- Liquid feeding: This can be done with Fertamino 7-2-3+ to support a good Spring growth. Use at 1-2%, 1 ml/m2 weekly.
Bulb Development Stage:
- Timing: late Spring/early Summer
- Fertiliser: If you think plants need it, switch to a fertiliser higher in potassium and phosphorus, such as liquid FertAmino 3-1-9+ or Topmix. These will help increase bulb size and quality.
Final Feeding: Optional and usually not needed
- Timing: 4-6 weeks before harvest.
- Fertiliser: If desired, apply a light feed of potassium-rich fertiliser like PatentKali at 500gr/10m2. This step is optional and should be based on the condition of your plants and/or soil tests.
To prevent the garlic from getting rust you can use Herfomyc, start applying it every 10 days from March onwards. Foliar Sulphur can help too.
Check out our blogpost for tips on How to Grow Garlic.
