Winter garlic turns yellow in spring. This can be avoided by helping the plant with timely fertilizing.
Below we will discuss what and when to feed so that the leaves remain green and the heads grow large.
Why is green mass so important?
Garlic leaves turn yellow due to lack of nitrogen in the soil. And a strong above-ground part with well-developed green leaves is the key to a good harvest.
The green color of the leaves is given by chlorophyll, thanks to which the plant processes mineral substances into organic ones during the process of photosynthesis.
During the growing season, a lot of nutrients accumulate in the green part, which then flow into the head.
The more nutrients the vegetative part accumulates, the larger the cloves. That is why it is so important that garlic does not turn yellow.
When and what to feed
The first feeding is done when 3-4 leaves are formed. If you have a thermometer, you should measure the soil temperature at a depth of 7-10 cm. It should not be lower than 9 degrees, otherwise the fertilizer will be poorly absorbed.
You should feed with ammonium nitrate, as it is better absorbed by plants in the cold period than urea. Take 20 g of nitrate per 10 liters of water. It would not be superfluous to add 20 g of magnesium sulfate, as magnesium is necessary for the formation of chlorophyll.
Subtleties that can improve efficiency
Many gardeners simply water the garlic bed with fertilizer, and then are surprised that the effect is almost unnoticeable. Some even blame the fertilizer manufacturer. But the gardener himself makes the mistake.
When planting, the clove is buried at least 5 cm deep. And the roots go 10 or more centimeters deep. The fertilizer simply does not reach the root system. Therefore, experienced gardeners resort to various tricks:
1. After watering with fertilizer, water from above with clean water so that the saltpeter penetrates deeper.
2. Dig a trench 7-12 cm deep next to the row and pour fertilizer into it, then fill the trench.
3. Make a hole (7-10 cm) near each plant with a peg, and then pour a solution of saltpeter into it.
These techniques allow nitrogen to be delivered directly to the root system.
