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Watering garlic with salt is referred to as folk remedies for pest control. Basically, the measure is directed against onion flour, a dangerous parasite whose caterpillars can destroy the crop. The saline solution strengthens the immunity of the vegetable crop, the plants are stronger after watering, and the product also enriches the soil with nitrogen.
Is it possible and why to water garlic and onions with salt water
Watering onions and garlic with saline is not a novelty for gardeners; on their plots, the product was used for a long time, when there were no pesticides on the market. Garlic and onions are able to accumulate harmful substances, and watering with a salt solution is safe.
The method has supporters and opponents, it is more difficult to determine who is more difficult. Watering vegetables brings undeniable benefits due to the content of sodium chloride:
- saline solution has a detrimental effect on the nematode and caterpillars of the onion fly, which parasitize on the underground part of the culture;
- increases the concentration of nitrogen in the ground, an important element in the growing season of onions, garlic;
- the soil does not need additional processing and fertilization.
If the ratios and frequency of events are not observed, watering with saline can cause significant harm:
- along with the destruction of harmful insects, salt can scare away or destroy beneficial ones;
- the composition of the soil changes, the internal ecosystem is disturbed not only within the treated area;
- it will not work to grow a good onion crop on saline soil, in this case it is recommended to replace the sod layer.
Before deciding whether to irrigate with a salt solution or not, it is recommended to compare how much the benefit outweighs the harm.
When to water garlic with salt water
If the culture develops well, it has a sufficient number of feathers, the aerial part is green and not pale, then watering with salt water is irrelevant. If the plant looks weak, the feather is thin, the color is pale – this is a sign of nutrient deficiency, more often nitrogen, which is responsible for the growth of green mass.
It is possible to irrigate garlic or onions with saline, but if there is no immediate effect, it is better to feed the vegetable crop with urea.
If the onion stops growing, its tops turn yellow, the feathers dry and droop – this is the first sign of pest damage.
Initial symptoms appear in early May. At this time, the onion fly larvae are gaining activity.
If the season is rainy, the nematode can make itself felt at any time of the year. Therefore, in the case of garlic or onions, it is better to prevent the spread of the pest: to irrigate the crop at the three-leaf stage.
Planting garlic, unlike onions, is carried out in spring or before winter. Spring has a stronger immunity, so there are no problems with growing. Two waterings are enough for him: during the period of sprouts appearance and after 20 days. Winter varieties require a more serious approach, before harvesting they are treated with saline four times. The first procedure is carried out when the feathers reach 7 cm, the subsequent ones – with an interval of 3 weeks.
How to dilute salt for watering garlic
Watering garlic or onions with salt water is carried out with a solution prepared in proportion. An excess amount of sodium chloride is undesirable. The soil near the vegetables is not poured, but the green part of the plant is sprayed, you can use a watering can, but it is better to carry out the procedure with a spray gun.
How much salt is needed per bucket for watering garlic
It is necessary to make a saline solution for watering garlic or onions in compliance with a certain concentration. Approximate consumption – 5 liters (1/2 bucket) per 1 m2. The salt concentration depends on the processing time:
- at the beginning of June, 100 g of salt is poured into about 3 liters of water at a temperature of +500C. Stir until the crystals are completely dissolved. The liquid is then poured into a bucket of cold water;
- after 2 weeks, the process is repeated, only 300 g of salts are taken;
- after another 14 days, watering is repeated with a more concentrated agent, for which 400 g of salt will be needed.
In the case of a strong spread of pests, onions or garlic are treated with a shock dose, where 600 g of salt is poured into a bucket of water.
How to properly water garlic and onions with salt water
The concentration of the solution and the frequency of watering garlic, onions with salt from diseases and pests depends on the purpose of the event and the degree of infection of the crop. The procedure can be curative, preventive or used as a top dressing for better vegetation.
Preventive treatment
Preventive measures begin with the processing of planting material. Soak the garlic cloves in a saline solution (250 g per 5 liters of water). This event is also relevant for seed onions.
The planting material is in the saline solution for 1 hour, then it is taken out and dried.
When the culture germinates, the vegetation is monitored, if there were cases of pest damage on the site, preventive watering is carried out:
- 10 g of salt are dissolved in 250 liters of warm water.
- In the evening, sprinkle the feathers of garlic, onions and leave until morning.
- The next day, the plant is watered abundantly, covering the entire above-ground part.
After the procedure, liquid organic matter can be added as a fertilizer.
Top dressing garlic
Sodium chloride is rarely used to feed garlic or onions. Salt solution is more effective in pest control, but not as a fertilizer. The only advantage of salt is the replenishment of the nitrogen reserve in the soil, but the introduction of urea is more effective and does not violate the composition of the soil.
Watering the spring variety is carried out twice when sprouts appear, then after 21 days. Winter crops are additionally fed with saline again approximately in mid-July. I use salt water (100 g per bucket). After processing, the remnants of the product from the green mass are washed off with clean water and the plant is watered abundantly.
Watering garlic with salt from onion flies and other pests
The danger of the onion fly lies in the fact that it is quite difficult to detect the pest at the first stage. The insect larva hibernates in the soil and, at the first warming, rises to the surface for reproduction. Eggs are laid in the root of garlic or onions; during the season, the insect makes 3 clutches of 60 pcs.
An adult onion fly is not dangerous for a vegetable crop, the main harm from the parasite is observed in the caterpillar stage
During salt treatment, the female cannot get into the middle of the bulb, she has to lay under the scales of the root tuber, where the larvae become vulnerable. Subsequent processing kills them, if manganese is added to the salt solution, then the pupae have little chance of surviving.
Watering begins in May with a weak concentration of the product. The initial interval between treatments is 3 weeks. If the problem persists, use more salt, reduce the time between waterings to 14 days. More than four treatments are not carried out, during the last procedure the largest amount of salt is used. In case of failure, chemicals are used.
Advantages and disadvantages of watering garlic
Salt solution for watering onions and garlic can only be used in limited quantities and low concentrations. The effectiveness of the product is lower than that of chemicals.
Salt displaces adults from the treated area, but this applies only to the onion fly. It is almost impossible to destroy the nematode with a folk remedy, but its appearance can be prevented.
If watering with salt is carried out as a top dressing, then the vegetables get sick less often, the bulbs form large and the above-ground mass is dense with an intense green color.
Frequent watering with salt water disrupts nitrogen metabolism in the cells of garlic and onions, which leads to the accumulation of carcinogens and ammonia in vegetables.
Sodium and chlorine are the main constituents of edible salt. Even at low concentrations, they displace potassium from the soil, making it heavy with poor aeration. It will not work to grow a full-fledged crop on the site, the crop bulbs will be smaller. You can not use a folk recipe on all soils, the product increases acidity, after processing it is necessary to adjust the composition with ash.
Conclusion
Watering garlic with salt is an effective, but not always justified measure in pest control. If the plant develops normally, looks healthy, there is no need to use a folk remedy. Frequent watering without observing the dosage of sodium chloride can do more harm to soil composition than good for garlic or onions.
