Garlic is one of the indispensable ingredients in cuisines around the world. For health, it lowers bad cholesterol and increases good one in the body, and supports the removal of atherosclerosis on blood vessels.
Even though its origin comes from Central Asian countries, you can still grow this tuber in cold climates like Canada or the US. Gardeners will often cover their gardens in the winter to retain heat. However, do you know when to remove mulch from garlic? Keep on reading to take good tips for your garden!
When To Remove Mulch From Garlic?
It would be best to eliminate the coating on the tuber in the spring as soon as possible. It helps take out the ice that can be leftover from winter and quickly raise the ground temperature because of sunlight.
You can mix the removed layer with fertilizer to use in the summer, assisting in reducing the absorptive temperature of the soil.
Why Should You Remove Mulch For Garlic?
This plant needs cool temperatures to grow well in the first two months, around 0 to 10 degrees Celsius. As a result, it is usually planted in late winter and early spring to limit the effects and keep warm in the above range. After two months, you need to ensure the temperature is above 4.5 degrees Celsius for it to grow until harvest.
Removing this layer in the summer plays an important role, with two main purposes:
- Increase soil temperature: take out residual ice (if present), increase air permeability and increase direct sunlight exposure.
- Support the saplings: assist them in penetrating the soil more easily and germinating better.
Alternatively, if the coat is thin, you can keep or extract a part so the plant can get through itself. For the clay or silt, you must take it away cleanly to avoid blocking the light or air of the plant.
How To Mulch Garlic
In Canada and some northern states of the United States, mulch is often used to protect this tuber through the winter. It prevents the ground from being frozen or defrosted, causing the tubers to be pushed out of the ground and possibly dead when the roots fail to take up nutrients. Then, a coating that holds the soil and keeps it warm is necessary.
This step is usually done in late fall before the weather turns colder in winter. You can use a clean straw, shredded leaves, grass clippings, or another available organic one to cover your garden but limit the use of clay and mud. This layer can range from 3 to 6 inches thick, depending on the temperature and soil.
You should spread the coating evenly and make it loose instead of compacting it. This way can avoid heat loss and cause freezing but still allow good aeration for the soil.
You must confirm the saplings through this coating when spring comes to grow. If not, you need to take out some or all of them so the plants can bounce off the ground.
Conclusion
The coating on this tuber should be removed in the spring when the weather becomes warmer. This action will help the plant germinate and grow well when the season changes.
Usually, gardeners will plant it in late winter or early spring so it can thrive in a temperature range of 0 to 10 degrees. Then, they eliminate the mulch completely or partially to ensure that the saplings can sprout.
Hopefully, after this article, you know when to remove mulch from garlic and why you need to do so. Then, you may take better care of your spice garden!
