The National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation has recently developed the first new garlic variety Agrifound Parvati-2 recommended for cultivation in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Maturity dateThe crop matures in 220-240 days after planting and keeping quality is moderate. Bulbs are attractive, compact, round and white.
ADVERTISEMENT
It is tolerant to stemphylium blight, purple blotch and environmental stress conditions. Average yield is about 20-21 t/h.
Right season for planting in hills is August-September. About 700-800 kg cloves are required to plant one hectare and care should be taken to select bigger cloves preferably from the outer side of the bulbs.
Long slender cloves present in the centre should not be used for planting since cloves do not give properly developed bulbs.
ADVERTISEMENT
The seed rate depends on bulb size, clove size, clove weight and number of cloves per bulb. It has been recommended to apply 25 t/ha FYM at the time of field preparation and mix well in the soil. For a normal soil 100 kg. N, 50 kg P, 50 kg K and 50 kg S per hectare through chemical fertilizers has been recommended.
Complete dose of phosphorus, potash, sulphur and half of nitrogen should be applied before planting. Another half dose of nitrogen should be applied after a month of planting. 15 x 10 cm spacing has been recommended.
Garlic needs irrigation at an interval of 8-10 days during vegetative growth and 10-15 days during maturation.
HarvestingThe crop is considered ready for harvesting when the tops turn yellowish or brownish and shows signs of drying up.
It can be stored in bundles along with foliage or in hessian bag or leno bags after foliage cut in ventilated godowns.
(R K Singh is Assistant Director, Horticulture, email: singhrknbpgr@yahoo.com, rks@nhrdf.com Mob: 09881303443 and R.P.Gupta is Director, e-mail: nhrdf_nsk@sanchrnet.in, mob: 9850880668, National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation, Chitegaon Phata, Post-Darna Sangavi, 422 003 Taluka-Niphad, Nashik, Maharashtra.)