Spring sowing of vegetable crops

In February and March some cold-resistant crops are planted.

Summer garlic for bulb production is planted from the second half of February until the beginning of March. Bulbs with well-developed cloves are used. Only the outer cloves are planted, as they are larger and produce vigorous plants.

An important requirement is that they originate from completely healthy bulbs. Planting material can transmit the garlic form of the stem nematode, which attacks garlic and onion and is extremely harmful. The attacked cloves are widely spaced from each other in the bulb, often have a yellow-brown colour and an unpleasant odour. In storage the nematode continues to develop and heavily infested bulbs usually die. Garlic should not be planted in the same place earlier than every 3-4 years.

Technology for growing garlic

Disinfection of the cloves before planting is carried out by soaking in water. They are placed in a perforated container whose bottom touches the water. The nematodes migrate into the water, which is changed and discarded every 24 hours. It is even better if the water is running. The procedure lasts three days and afterwards the cloves are immersed in a 1% formalin solution and spread out in the sun for a few days to dry. They are stored at 4-5°C. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, gerbera, marigold and hops are not attacked by the nematode that infects garlic.

Before planting, it is advisable to dip the cloves in a solution of an authorised fungicide against grey mould caused by the fungus Borytis porri and white sclerotial rot.

At the end of February – beginning of March, onions for bulb production are sown by direct sowing from seed or from sets. Well-aerated, nutrient-rich soils are used, well drained and well exposed to sunlight, on plots free from weeds. It is advisable that the crops previously grown on the site have been fertilised with farmyard manure, because onions do not tolerate direct manuring with it. For uniform and rapid sprouting of the sets, the dry part of the neck is cut off before planting, taking care not to damage the growing tip. They are soaked in water at room temperature. The bulbs are inserted at a depth of 2 to 4 cm, pressed well into the soil and watered.

Technologies for growing onions

After planting the onions, the main care is to keep the soil loose and free from weeds. Experience shows that when onions for seed are planted in February, yields are higher than when planted in autumn.

Carrots for early field production are sown from 20 February to 10 March. Their seeds can transmit black rot, a dangerous disease of root crops. Therefore, only seeds taken from healthy plants are sown. For the crop, plots are selected that are distant from those where carrots were grown in the previous year. Good predecessors are legumes, cucumbers, and generally crops fertilised with farmyard manure. The soil must be well tilled and free of weeds.

From the end of February to 10 March, parsley and dill are sown, and parsnip – from 10 February to 10 March. Celery seeds are sown to produce seedlings, which are grown for about 70 days before transplanting outdoors. Peas are sown at the end of February – beginning of March. During this period, it is also time for radishes and spinach.

Technology for growing legume vegetables

During this early period, care is taken to prepare the seed potatoes, which in vegetable production are grown as an early spring crop. During the winter season, the tubers are subjected to various treatments in order to obtain good, short and variety-coloured sprouts.

Planting of early potatoes begins at the beginning of March in the warmest regions of the country. Three weeks beforehand, the tubers are hardened by darkening the room and cooling it to 2/3 degrees. During these manipulations various disease symptoms appear on the tubers. If they carry infection, it is very important that tubers showing even the smallest rot spots be removed, because the infection increases during storage. Therefore, planting healthy seed material is a key requirement for preventing attacks by the most dangerous diseases. For example, in the case of late blight, infection in the field is renewed mainly from diseased tubers.