Garlic a popular bulb crop cultivated throughout Asia. It is used as spice in many dishes. Also it posses excellent medicinal properties. It is rich source of protein, phosphorus, potassium etc. It helps in digestion, also it reduces cholesterol in human blood. Major garlic producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana. In Haryana, garlic is important spice crop and its cultivation area is increasing day by day. In 2010-11 near about 3540 ha area was under garlic crop ( 22% area is increased compared to 2005-06 years area). Bhiwani, Gurgaon, Fatehabad, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Sirsa, Yamuna Nagar are major garlic growing districts of Haryana.

It can be cultivated on various soil types. It gives best result when grown in sandy loam and silt loam soils rich in organic matter. Loose and sandy soils are not suitable for cultivation as bulb produce in such soil are deformed with less keeping quality. pH of soil should be 6 to 7.

HG 27: High yielding hybrid, developed by CCS, Hisar.

HG 17: High yielding hybrid, developed by CCS, Hisar. Less affected by purple blotch disease and having good storage life. Gives average yield of 45-50 qtl/acre.

Yamuna Safed (G-1): Bulbs are compact with silvery white appearance. Cloves are of sickle shape with 25-30 cloves per bulb.

Yamuna Safed 2(G-50): Bulbs are compact with attractive white creamy flesh contain 35-40 cloves per bulb.

G 40: Cloves are of fresh white color and gives average yield of 50-60 qtl/acre.

Yamuna Safed 3 (G 282): Bulbs are creamy white and bigger in size. Number of cloves are 15-16 per bulb.

Yamuna Safed 4 (G 323): Bulbs are silvery white and contain number of cloves 20-25 per bulb.

Other States Variety

Bhima Purple: Ready to harvest in 120-135 days. Buld having attractive purple color. Gives average yield of 24-28 qtl/acre.

VL Garlic 1: Bulbs are of whitish color. Ready to harvest in 180-190 days. Gives average yield of 56-60 qtl/acre in hills and 36-40 qtl/acre in plains.

Yamuna Safed 5: Ready to harvest in 150-160 days. Gives average yield of 68-72 qtl/acre. 

Give three to four deep ploughing and bring soil to fine tilth. Add well decomposed cow dung to increase organic content of soil. Then levelled soil and divide into small plots and channels.

Time of sowing
Optimum time for sowing is last week of September to October.

Spacing
Keep row to row spacing is 15cm and plant to plant spacing is 8-10cm. 
 
Sowing Depth
Sow garlic cloves at depth of 5-6cm keeping their growing heads upward.

Method of sowing
For sowing of garlic use Kera method. Sowing can be done manually or with help of machine. Cover cloves with soil and provide light irrigation.

Seed Rate
For sowing, use seed rate of 1.5-2 qtl per acre.

Seed Treatment
Seed treatment with Thiram@2gm/kg of seed + Benomyl 50WP@1gm/liter water effectively controls damping off and smut diseases. After chemical treatment, seed treatment with bio agent Trichoderma viride@2gm/kg of seed is recommended, it helps in reducing early seedling diseases and soil borne inoculum.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply two tonnes of Farm Yard Manure or well decomposed cowdung at time of land preparation. Apply Nitrogen@50kg, Phophorus@20kg and Potash@10kg in form of Urea@110kg and Single Super Phosphate@125kg and Muriate of Potash@17kg per acre. Apply whole quantity of SSP before sowing and Nitrogen should be applied in three equal splits. Apply Urea 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing.

WSF: 10-15 days after transplanting, sprayed 19:19:19 along with micronutrients@2.5 to 3gm/Ltr of water.

Depending upon climatic conditions and soil type decide irrigation amount and frequency. Apply first irrigation immediately after sowing. In winter apply water with interval of 10-15 days and in summer apply weekly irrigation.

Initially garlic seedlings grow slowly. So better to use chemical herbicides than hand weeding to avoid injury. To control weeds take spray of Pendimethalin@1Ltr/200Ltr water/acre within 72 hours of sowing. Apply Oxyfluorfen@425ml/200Ltr of water per acre as post emergence herbicide 7 days after planting. Two to three weeding are recommended for weed control. First hand weeding should be done one month after sowing and second hand weeding to be done one month after first hand weeding.

• Pest and their control:
  

Thrips: If not controlled properly can cause yield loss up to 50%. Mostly observed in dry weather. They suck sap from the foliage and results in curling of leaves, leaves become cup shaped or curved upward.

To check severity of thrips incidence, keep blue sticky traps @6-8 per acre. If infestation observed in field take spray of Fipronil@30ml/15Ltr water or Prophenophos@10ml or Carbosulfan@10ml/10Ltr water by 8-10 days interval.

Maggots: Infestation observed in January-February Month. They feed on roots cause browning of leaves. Base of plant become watery.
If infestation is observed, apply Carbaryl@4kg or Phorate@4kg to the soil and give light irrigation. Apply Chlorpyriphos @2Ltr/acre alongwith irrigation water or sand.

• Disease and their control

Purple blotch and stemphylium blight: In severe infestation may cause yield loss up to 70%. Deep purple lesions are observed on leaves. Yellow streaks get turn brown and extend along the blade.

Take spray of Propineb70%WP@350gm/acre/150Ltr of water, twice at 10 days interval.

Depending upon the variety, crop becomes ready to harvest in 135-150 days after sowing. Optimum time for harvesting is when 50% leaves start yellowing and drying. Stop irrigation atleast 15 days before harvesting. Plants are pull out or uprooted, then tied into small bundle and kept in field or shade for 2-3 days. After proper drying, dry stalks are removed and bulbs are cleaned.

After harvesting and proper drying, bulbs are sorted and graded according to size. Garlic should be store at dark, well ventilated, clean and dry place. In cold storage, garlic can be store for 3-4 month at temperature of 0-2°C and 65-70% relative humidity.

1.Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana

2.Department of Agriculture

3.Indian Agricultural Research Instittute, New Delhi

4.Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research

5.Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare