When to dig garlic in Kursk and other regions of Russia, signs of maturity

Gardeners are wondering when to start digging garlic in Kursk and other regions of Russia. Harvesting times vary depending on the climate zone. In the south, ripening occurs more quickly, while in the north, it slows down. To dig up the bulbs on time, it's important to pay attention to weather conditions and ripening indicators.

Why is it important to harvest garlic on time?

Garlic's growing season averages 100 days. There are two varieties: spring and winter. The former is planted in the spring and harvested in late summer. The latter is planted in the fall and harvested midseason.

It's important to dig up the bulbs promptly; even a few extra days in the ground will lead to overripening. Overripe bulbs exhibit the following signs:

• The husk is easily separated from the cloves.
• There are cracks on the surface of the head.
• The cloves are soft and do not emit a characteristic odor.
• Rot appears on the fruits.

This harvest doesn't store well and is prone to rotting. It must be processed immediately, or the fruit may spoil.

Important! When garlic is overripe, its flavor and nutritional properties are lost.

How to determine the ripeness of garlic

It's important to determine crop maturity early to prevent overripening. These are different for spring and winter varieties.

Yarovoy

The spring variety is planted in the spring. This variety does not produce shoots as it grows, making it difficult to determine the ripeness of the fruit. To determine ripeness, dig up several bushes and inspect the heads. They should exhibit the following characteristics:

• The color of the husk takes on a purple hue.
• The skin separates easily from the cloves.
• The bulbs began to put out young roots.
• The cloves are dense and emit a strong characteristic odor.
• The lower leaves become dry and the upper ones begin to turn yellow.

All these signs indicate that the crop is ready for harvesting in 3 to 5 days. Digging is done at the end of the season, usually in late August.

Winter

Winter varieties produce stems. When they straighten, they are usually pruned to increase yield and strengthen the plant's bulb. It's recommended to leave 1-2 stemmed plants to make it easier to monitor the crop's ripening. Winter varieties are characterized by:

• Seeds formed on the arrows, and the capsule burst.
• The leaves at the top turned yellow and the lower ones dried out.
• The head has a dense skin that is purple-white in color.
• Young roots are visible on the bulb.

To be on the safe side, it is also recommended to dig up a few bushes and inspect the bulbs.

The winter variety is dug up in the middle of the season, usually in mid-July.

Important! Some gardeners rely on the lunar calendar, which specifies the exact time to dig up garlic.

When to dig garlic in Russia's regions

Garlic harvesting times vary depending on the region and climate zone. These dates vary slightly in Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, the Central Black Earth Region, and Tambov.

In Kursk

The region has a temperate continental climate, characterized by a stable summer lasting approximately 115 days. Almost 50% of the annual precipitation falls during this period. Spring garlic is harvested in this region in late August, between the 20th and 25th.

The winter variety is harvested in mid- to late July, depending on weather conditions and signs of maturity.

In Voronezh and the Voronezh region

The region has a temperate climate, characterized by a 114-day summer. Temperatures drop off around August 12th. Summer garlic is harvested around August 20th, and winter garlic around July 20th.

In the Belgorod region

The region experiences a moderate continental climate. Belgorod is characterized by hot summers with periodic droughts. The summer period lasts 115 days. It is recommended to dig up garlic around July 10th for winter varieties and mid-August for spring varieties.

Important! If heavy rainfall is frequent, dig up garlic early to prevent it from rotting in the soil.

In the Black Earth Region

Summer in this region lasts 114 days. It is characterized by warm summers, with most precipitation occurring in June. Temperatures begin to drop starting on August 14th. Spring garlic is dug up between August 15th and 20th. Winter garlic is harvested around July 20th.

In Tambov

The region has a cold-temperate climate, characterized by long summers and abundant precipitation. Harvesting garlic for spring The species begins to be harvested around the 25th of August. The winter species is dug up at the end of July.