On some varieties of winter garlic, the so-called arrows are formed, which many gardeners try to remove in a timely manner. They are designed to ripen seeds. In the future, it will be possible to collect seed from the inflorescences. But, many gardeners do not set themselves the goal of collecting seeds. In addition, the formation of arrows takes a lot of strength from garlic. Therefore, to increase productivity, it is customary to pluck them. This begs the question: when to remove arrows from winter garlic?
Why you need to cut the arrows off the garlic
Winter varieties of garlic fully ripen by mid-July. Arrows begin to appear on plants sometime in the first week of June, just after all the feathers have formed. Arrows are located in the center of the neck of the bulb. Because of this arrangement, all useful substances are sent to it. Thus, the plant fulfills its biological role – the formation of seeds.
This whole process requires a large amount of various minerals. At first, the plant gives all its strength to the formation of the arrow itself, and then directs all the rest to the formation of seeds. It follows from this that it is necessary to pluck the arrows from the garlic even before the plant begins to bloom. This is the only way to save the necessary nutrients for fruit growth.
Firstly, arrowhead garlic is significantly retarded in growth and mature fruits will have to be expected several weeks longer. And secondly, the productivity drops very much. Of the expected number of fruits, it will be possible to collect only a third. Experienced gardeners have noticed that as soon as the arrows appear, the plants immediately slow down in growth.
Do not rush to remove absolutely all arrows from plants. Some gardeners use them to determine whether the garlic is ripe or not. A cracked seed pod indicates that the fruits can already be harvested. Plants with left arrows can be left and further collect seeds for sowing.
When to delete
There are 2 most common opinions about when it is better to pick arrows from garlic. They both have their pros and cons. So, let’s look at each of them separately:
- It is necessary to cut off unwanted shoots immediately after their appearance. On the one hand, this method ensures that the appearance of the arrow does not affect the growth and development of the bulb. But at the same time, very soon the shoot will sprout again and you will have to repeat the procedure. Perhaps, for the entire vegetative period, it will be necessary to repeat what has been done more than once.
- You can pick off the arrows after they start to twist. In this case, the shoot will definitely not sprout again, since it simply does not have enough time before the start of harvest. However, during its growth, the arrow will have time to select a large amount of nutrients.
As you can see, it is very difficult to find the ideal time to remove the shoots. Nevertheless, it is customary to pluck the arrows at the moment when they have not yet had time to grow more than 15 cm in length. For such a period, they will not bring severe damage to the growth of the plant. In addition, the likelihood of re-germination is lower.
From the above, one thing is clear that picking arrows from garlic is a must. And how exactly you will do this is up to you. Some can remove shoots several times per season, while others pluck almost formed arrows.
How to cut off
It is impossible to say exactly how to cut off the shoots correctly. You can simply choose the method that is convenient for you. In this case, in no case should you pull out the shoots, as this can damage the stem itself. At first, it may seem that the plant was not affected in any way. But, soon the stem begins to turn yellow and dry out.
The best option would be to simply pinch off the shoot at the base or break it. Some gardeners claim that due to an uneven breakdown in this case, the plant will heal for a long time. Those who consider this a serious problem can use special gardening tools. For example, secateurs or garden shears are suitable for these purposes. You can not do without special tools even if the arrows have become stiff. While young shoots are easily cut even with a kitchen knife.
It is best to carry out the removal of shoots in the morning in sunny weather. Then during the day the place of the cut will be able to dry completely. The shoot should not be cut at the very base, but slightly higher (about 1 cm). This is done in order not to harm the stem itself.
Conclusion
Now there will definitely not be those who still doubt whether it is necessary to remove unwanted shoots from garlic. As you can see, the arrows only slow down the growth and development of the fruit. Many remove the shoots manually, for someone such cleaning is carried out only with the help of special tools. The main thing is to remove the shoots in time, otherwise the garlic bed will not only lose its attractive appearance, but also will not bring the expected harvest. Below you can also see a video that shows how some gardeners perform this procedure.
