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Onion and garlic are two of the most commonly used ingredients in culinary dishes worldwide. These two edible plants can be grown easily in almost any climate and soil condition, making it an ideal choice for home gardeners and farmers alike. Here is a guide to growing and harvesting onion and garlic.
1. Soil Preparation:
Both garlic and onion prefer soil that is well-drained and fertile with a pH around 6.5 to 7.5. We recommend preparing the soil by loosening it with a fork or tiller, adding compost or manure, and mixing in a balanced fertilizer. Make sure the soil has enough minerals and nutrients for these plants to grow healthy.
2. Onion Sowing:
Onion seeds are small, and since they are slow-growing, you may want to start them indoors six to eight weeks before the last expected frost. Alternatively, you can sow the seeds directly into the soil in early spring when the ground has warmed up enough for germination to begin. Sow the seeds on the soil surface, and do not cover them with soil. Onion seeds germinate in around 7-10 days.
3. Garlic Sowing:
Garlic bulbs are planted in the fall season for next year’s harvest. Garlic is grown by planting individual cloves. Break apart a bulb into individual cloves, and plant each clove with the pointed end facing upwards around 2 inches deep and 4 inches apart.
4. Care and maintenance:
Both garlic and onion need to be kept weed-free and provided with enough water. Onion seeds need regular and even moisture to germinate and establish themselves. Once the plants are established, lower the frequency of watering. Garlic prefers cool temperatures and needs to be kept free of weeds to grow healthy.
5. Harvesting:
Onions can be harvested at any time, but they form bulbs when the days grow longer. When the leaves start to turn yellow, you can start to harvest onion bulbs. You can pull up the onions or loosen the soil around the bulbs and wait until they dry out in the sun. Once the onions are harvested, set them in a warm, dry location to cure for 2-3 weeks.
Garlic can be harvested when the plants have about 5 green leaves and the top growth starts to turn yellow or brown, usually around late spring or early summer. You can carefully dig up the garlic bulbs with a fork and let them dry out in the sun for at least a week, so they are easy to handle.
In conclusion, growing garlic and onion requires basic gardening skills, and with little care, you can easily have your harvest. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy freshly grown and flavorful garlic and onion in your meals.