Garlic

Soil Preparation

• Perform 2–3 deep ploughings to make a fine, well-leveled seedbed.
• Apply FYM (Farm Yard Manure): 3–4 tons per acre during land preparation.
• Soil should be well-drained loamy, rich in organic matter.
• Optimum pH: 6.5–7.5.

Sowing Time

Season Sowing Time
Main (Rabi) Crop October – November
Early Crop September in warm areas

Seed Rate and Preparation

• Seed rate: 250–300 kg cloves per acre.
• Select large, healthy, disease-free cloves (not small or damaged).
• Seed treatment:
Treat cloves with Portible (Thiophanate Methyl) @ 2g/kg for fungal protection.

Method of Planting

• Plant on ridges or raised beds for better drainage.
• Row-to-row spacing: 9–12 inches (22–30 cm).
• Plant-to-plant spacing: 4–6 inches (10–15 cm).
• Depth: 1–1.5 inches.
• Place cloves with pointed side upward.

Fertilizer Application

Fertilizer Quantity per Acre Time of Application
DAP (18:46:0) 1.5 bags (75 kg) At planting
Urea (46% N) 1 bag (50 kg) Split into 3 doses – at 30, 60 & 90 days
SOP (Sulphate of Potash) 1 bag (50 kg) At bulb formation
FYM 3–4 tons Before sowing
Tip: Garlic needs more Potash for good bulb size and quality.

Irrigation Management

• First irrigation: Immediately after sowing.
• Subsequent irrigation: Every 10–12 days (depending on weather).
• Avoid over-irrigation during bulb maturation to prevent rotting.
• Stop irrigation 15–20 days before harvest.

Weed Management

Weed Damage Control Product
Bathu (Lambsquarters) It germinates thick in the cold months and shades the thin garlic leaves, and garlic shaded early makes a small bulb. Pendimethalin 33%EC
Nettle-leaf Goosefoot (Krund) It germinates with the crop in the cold weeks and takes the nitrogen while the bulb is still setting, so the bulb stays small. Pendimethalin 33%EC
Canary Grass (Dumbi Sitti) It sprouts with the garlic and, once away, takes the nitrogen as the bulb is forming, so the bulbs stay light. Pendimethalin 33%EC
Onion Weed (Piazi) It germinates with the crop and, looking like garlic itself, is left standing to take water and nitrogen while the bulb fills — its leaf is round and hollow like an onion's, not flat like garlic's, and it gives no garlic smell when crushed. Once it is already up in a standing crop, pull it out by hand; no spray will take it out without harming the garlic. Pendimethalin 33%EC
Purple Nutsedge (Deela) It comes up in spring as the bulb is filling, and its tubers survive every hoeing to take water the crop cannot spare. Hand weeding 2-3 times during crop growth

• Manual weeding: 2–3 times during crop growth.
• Chemical control:
Use Pendimethalin 33%EC @ 1 litre per acre after sowing, before the weeds come up (pre-emergence).

Insect Pest Management

Pest Damage Control Product
Thrips Leaves turn silver, dry at tips D-Pest 25% WP (Imidacloprid) or Coupraze 25% WG (Thiamethoxam)
Onion Maggot Maggots attack bulbs underground Apply Zizir 10% EC (Bifenthrin) drench
Leaf Miner White patches on leaves Veento 1.9% EC (Emamectin Benzoate)

Major Diseases and Control

Disease Symptoms Control Product
Purple Blotch Purple/brown lesions on leaves Cure Jet 72% WP (Cymoxanil + Mancozeb)
Stemphylium Blight Leaf tip drying Vesant 80% (Sulphur 80%)
Fusarium Rot Bulb rotting Soil drench with Portible (Thiophanate Methyl)

Harvesting

• Crop ready 150–180 days after sowing (April–May).
• Harvest when 75–80% leaves turn yellow or dry.
• After harvesting, dry bulbs in shade for 7–10 days.
• Store in cool, dry, and well-ventilated place.

Expected Yield

• Good variety: 80–120 maunds (3–5 tons) per acre.

For Agronomic Help & Product Support:
Agritas UAN: +92 336 1111 130

Pests & diseases of Garlic

Thripsmedium Leaf Minerlow Onion Maggotmedium Purple Nutsedge (Deela)high Bacterial Leaf Blighthigh Stemphylium Blighthigh Fusarium Rothigh Purple Blotchhigh Zinc Deficiency (Khaira)medium Nitrogen Deficiencymedium Phosphorus Deficiencymedium Micronutrient Deficiencymedium