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Among the huge variety of varieties of garlic, springing winter varieties are especially valued by summer residents, which can be planted in the autumn, thus freeing up time in the spring for planting other crops. Garlic Petrovsky is a worthy representative of this category, standing out for its outstanding characteristics and memorable taste.
History of variety breeding
Garlic variety Petrovsky has been known to gardeners for decades. It was bred at the end of the 1998th century at the All- Research Institute of Vegetable Breeding and Seed Production. In XNUMX, the variety was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Federation, where it is still listed today. The properties of this vegetable were highly appreciated not only by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, but also by ordinary gardeners, who consider Petrovsky one of the best varieties of winter garlic.
Description of the variety of garlic Petrovsky
In appearance, Petrovsky garlic is a perennial herbaceous plant with a height of 65 – 75 cm. This variety belongs to the arrow varieties and has fairly wide erect leaves of deep dark green color, which gradually taper towards the end. The surface of the leaf plates is smooth, with a wax coating, is 8-10 mm wide.
The bulbs of this culture are quite large. They have a rounded, slightly flattened shape and can reach a mass of up to 60 g. In the axils of one bulb, about 6-8 cloves are formed, covered with off-white scales with purple streaks.
According to the description and photo, Petrovsky’s garlic cloves are oblong: slightly concave on one side and convex on the other. In the middle they have a noticeable thickening. The color of the teeth varies from pale brown to ivory. The taste qualities of Petrovsky garlic are slightly more pungent than other varieties, and have a long tart aftertaste.
Petrovsky’s garlic blooms quite modestly. Its spherical inflorescences on long stems consist of a large number of small flowers, the size of which does not exceed 3 mm. The petals of such flowers are almost always white, occasionally pale lilac. They have little to no flavor and produce very few seeds.
Characteristics of a variety
Petrovsky garlic is very popular among gardeners due to its outstanding characteristics.
According to the description, Petrovsky garlic belongs to mid-season varieties. This variety is not too whimsical to soils, however, the plant feels most comfortable in loamy soil, where the acidity level is neutral at 5-7 pH.
Due to its high frost resistance, the crop is suitable for sowing for the winter and, with proper care, can give a significant harvest in regions with not the most friendly climate.
Bulbs of the Petrovsky variety are characterized by a long shelf life, are able to maintain freshness for many weeks and do not lose their presentation during long-distance transportation. In addition, this crop has a fairly high yield.
Productivity
Abundant yields have made the Petrovsky variety in demand among professional gardeners. Using a competent approach from 1 m2 garlic beds can be harvested every season 0,5 – 1 kg of crop. The average weight of one bulb, as a rule, ranges from 30 – 60 g, but can exceed 75 g.
As mentioned above, Petrovsky garlic belongs to the mid-season variety. The ripening period of the bulbs of the plant takes from 80 to 120 days, depending on the growing conditions. The following factors significantly affect the ripening time, as well as the volume of the future crop of the Petrovsky variety:
- choice of landing site;
- soil fertility;
- systematic watering;
- regular change of place of growth of garlic;
- the quality of feeding and its regular application;
- preventive treatment against pests and diseases.
If you pay due attention to the care requirements and pay attention to the culture, you can increase the garlic yield up to 1,5 kg / m2.
Disease and pest resistance
In addition to impressive yields, the Petrovsky variety is characterized by increased resistance to most diseases that affect plants of the Onion family. In addition, garlic of this variety has an increased resistance to fungal infections and parasitic organisms.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Garlic variety Petrovsky has a number of advantages, thanks to which it stands out among other representatives of the species. These include:
- versatility of the variety;
- large-sized bulbs;
- resistance to various pathogens;
- long storage time of the crop;
- good portability of transportation;
- outstanding taste properties;
- frost resistance.
The few disadvantages of Petrovsky’s garlic include:
- strong dependence of crop volumes on growing conditions;
- the need to transplant culture to a new place every 3 to 4 years.
Planting and care
As for the peculiarities of growing Petrovsky garlic, this variety cannot be called particularly picky. Crop care does not require special actions and comes down to standard watering, weeding, fertilizing and loosening the plant.
In turn, planting this variety of garlic has some nuances that should be considered in order to achieve a bountiful harvest.
Based on the description and reviews of gardeners who are familiar with this crop firsthand, the Petrovsky garlic variety prefers sunny areas with fertile, not too wet or overdried soil as a planting site. Planted garlic cloves 3-4 weeks before the onset of cold weather, so that they have enough time to take root and get stronger. Otherwise, weak plants will not be able to survive the winter. In the northern regions, this period, as a rule, begins on September 25, and in the southern regions – on October 10. 1 – 1,5 months before planting the Petrovsky variety, it is necessary to prepare the soil by digging it to a depth of 20 – 25 cm.
When planting garlic, Petrovsky is guided by the following scheme:
- The distance from bed to bed should be at least 25 cm.
- Garlic cloves are planted at a distance of 10 cm from each other. In this case, the recesses should be at least 8 cm.
With the onset of spring, as soon as the first sprouts of garlic of the Petrovsky variety sprout, weeding is carried out.
Plants are watered from mid-May to early July, focusing on the degree of soil moisture – it should not be very dry or too wet. Stop watering 2-3 weeks before harvest.
Top dressing of culture should be carried out at least 3 times per season. In this case, it is desirable to alternate mineral and organic fertilizers. The first dressing of Petrovsky’s garlic is carried out during the appearance of the third leaf. During this period, the plant is fertilized with urea. After 2 – 3 weeks, the soil is enriched with nitroammophos. Toward the end of June, when the formation of bulbs begins, garlic is fed with superphosphate. After that, additional fertilizers are no longer required to be applied to the soil.
Diseases and pests
Although Petrovsky garlic has an increased resistance to various ailments and pests, lack of care and adverse conditions can lead to infection of the crop. Among the diseases that Petrovsky’s garlic is susceptible to are:
- various types of rot (white, black neck, and others);
- powdery mildew;
- Fusarium wilt.
Preventive measures that help prevent the development of diseases include careful digging before planting. In addition, it is categorically not recommended to plant Petrovsky garlic on the same site for more than 4 years in a row.
Periodically, Petrovsky garlic varieties may be disturbed by the following pests:
- onion hoverfly;
- onion grinder;
- onion thrips;
- onion fly.
Ash powder, scattered between garlic beds, helps fight pests. The treatment of the plant with tobacco dust after precipitation has proven itself well. Other folk remedies that repel parasitic insects include a decoction of bitter pepper and mustard infusion.
Conclusion
Garlic Petrovsky knowingly enjoys the fame of one of the best winter varieties. Due to its numerous positive characteristics and unpretentiousness in care, it deserves the attention of both amateur gardeners and professional agronomists.
