How to Prepare Garlic for Winter Planting: 'Female' Cloves Yield the Highest Harvest

We will reveal the secret that will help you grow large and juicy winter garlic in your garden. It is important to choose and plant garlic cloves correctly so that the harvest will surely please you.

The yield of winter garlic depends on many factors. One of the most important is the shape of the cloves. When planting, it is important to pay attention to this detail.

How to Distinguish 'Female' Garlic Cloves from 'Male' Ones

Experienced gardeners know that the largest, juiciest, and healthiest garlic heads come from 'female' cloves. They can be distinguished from 'male' ones by their shape and size:

'Female' garlic cloves have a rounded shape, resembling barrels or eggs; they are large and smooth, without pronounced edges. They are usually located closer to the edge of the garlic head.
'Male' garlic cloves are smaller, elongated, ribbed, and have sharp edges. They are usually located closer to the base of the garlic head and receive significantly less nourishment and light.

The reason is that 'female' cloves primarily form on the outer side of the garlic, have a thick skin, and receive more sunlight and nutrients during their growth and development.

Choosing these cloves for planting guarantees a higher quality and more abundant harvest.

How to Prepare Garlic for Autumn Planting

Winter garlic must be thoroughly prepared for planting and disinfected. For this, the heads are cleaned and soaked in a furacilin solution:

Dissolve 2 tablets of furacilin in 1 liter of boiling water, and then immerse the cleaned, BUT not separated garlic heads in it.
After 45 minutes, remove the garlic and dry it for 4-5 days.
Then you can separate the heads into cloves.
Do not rush to plant the garlic in the ground.
Next, the entire planting material should be stored for several days in its separated form. This is necessary for the protective tissues to mature. If you plant a clove with damaged integrity of the protective shell, there is a high probability of infection and rotting.
The garlic cloves are planted unpeeled, directly in their skins – such cloves have a better chance of survival.

Experts note that cloves prepared in this way germinate 60% better than unprepared ones.

It is not recommended to soak garlic additionally in phytosporin or saline solution during the autumn period. Furacilin has already disinfected the cloves at the preparation stage.

Instructions for Planting Winter Garlic

Planting the prepared garlic planting material is not difficult.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to plant garlic for the winter:

Prepare the bed. Loosen the soil and make furrows 20 cm apart. Their depth should be 6-8 cm.
Place the 'female' garlic cloves at the bottom of the furrow, 7-10 cm apart (increase the distance for large-fruited varieties).
Slightly press each clove into the soil, but do not push it in too deep. Otherwise, there will be problems with root system development.
Cover the furrows with soil and gently compact it.
Lay a layer of mulch over the planted beds. This will protect them from the cold and moisture evaporation. Use straw, sawdust, or compost as mulch.

Wishing you a good harvest!