Garlic Fertilizer Requirements: When and How to Fertilize Garlic Plants?

Are you planning to care for a crop that’s easy to grow? Then garlic is an incredible choice. Apart from its culinary uses and intense flavor, it also serves as an effective insect repellent in the garden. You can also use it as a remedy for a number of conditions.

When planting garlic, note that it takes around 180 to 210 days for it to mature. This will depend on your chosen variety. To ensure proper growth, nourish this crop with the right garlic fertilizer.

Choosing the Right Fertilizer for Garlic

One thing to note about the garlic plant is that it is a heavy feeder. The reason is that it takes a long time for garlic to mature and become ready for harvest. With that, you need to feed your garlic plant with the right fertilizer from the moment you cultivated it. To pick the best fertilizer for this plant, consider these factors:

NPK Ratio

This ratio is a vital factor to consider since it will determine the balance and amount of nutrients the plant will receive. NPK stands for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – all of which are essential for the growth of most crops. It would be best to choose a fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 16-6-4.

This is important as it indicates that the fertilizer is rich in nitrogen, which is a big help in increasing the yield of the plant while boosting its bulb quality. A nitrogen-rich fertilizer composed of materials, such as guano, bone meal, blood meal, and alfalfa can also improve the storability of the plant and its ability to resist diseases.

Type of Fertilizer

For garlic, among your best options are the following:

• Granular fertilizer – This dry fertilizer is one that you can apply using a spreader. One advantage of using this type is that it lets you witness the actual fertilizer. It allows you to see the specific spot where you actually applied it and the spot where the application is badly needed.

It could be slow-release, releasing nutrients steadily for a long period and requiring the use of fertilizer once or twice annually, or quick-release, which immediately delivers the nitrogen, which translates to the need for more frequent use.

• Liquid fertilizer – If you wish to use this type, then ensure that you dilute it before application. It is a good choice as you can easily apply it plus the plant can quickly absorb it. To apply the liquid fertilizer, you need a hose, watering can, or canister.
• Spikes – This fertilizer comes in a stick shape. It is slow-release, which means its nutrients will be released slowly. It is easy to use and something that you can directly apply to the ground.

Nutrient Content

Your chosen fertilizer also needs to contain all the nutrients that your garlic plant seems to lack. In this case, it helps to do a soil test so you can assess the actual condition of the soil and what your plant specifically needs. To guarantee the strong growth of garlic, supply it with the specific nutrients it needs, including carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, nitrogen, and sulfur. It would be best to nourish your plant with them using the appropriate fertilizer.

When and How to Fertilize the Garlic Plant?

Add compost to the planting bed first if you have decided to perform a soil test. If there is no soil test, then begin to fertilize the garlic with a balanced fertilizer blend. Apply it during the time of planting the garlic as it can support the development of its root and leaves. It also helps to use bone meal only once upon planting. The reason is that can promote flowering. Take out any flower stalk from the garlic plant to promote proper bulb development.

If you have planted garlic during the fall, then the best time to apply fertilizer would be in spring. You can do so by broadcasting the fertilizer over the whole bed or side-dressing it. Ensure that your chosen fertilizer is rich in nitrogen. For you to side-dress, let your fertilizer work around one inch down or around three to four inches from the garlic. Do the fertilizer application every 3-4 weeks.

You should also fertilize the garlic around the middle of May or prior to the swelling of the bulbs. Avoid fertilizing the plant with foods rich in Nitrogen once May ends as it may only stunt the size of the bulb.

How Do You Know if the Garlic is Ripe?

With proper care and the application of the right fertilizer, you can expect your garlic plant to mature and ripen in no time.  You will know that it is already ripe and ready for harvest when the tops start withering and dying. Pull it up once ready for harvest to guarantee its best flavor and storability.

Just make sure to let the tops dry prior to removing them. Use a weeding tool or pitchfork to let the soil beneath them loosen up first – after which, you can finally remove the tops. It will prevent them from breaking off before the bulbs become fully prepared for trimming.

Once successfully harvested, you can start enjoying the many uses of this plant – one of which is to add delightful flavors to your favorite foods, including soups, breads, meats, and stews.