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Watering garlic with salt is considered a folk remedy for pest control. The measure is mainly aimed 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 a saline solution is not a new thing for gardeners; they used the product on their plots a long time ago, when there were no pesticides on the market. Garlic and onions can accumulate harmful substances, and watering with a salt solution is safe.
The method has supporters and opponents; it is difficult to determine who is more. Watering vegetables brings undeniable benefits due to the sodium chloride content:
- saline solution has a detrimental effect on the nematode and onion fly caterpillars, which parasitize the underground part of the crop;
- increases the concentration of nitrogen in the soil, an important element in the growing season of onions and garlic;
- the soil does not require additional treatment or fertilization.
If the ratios and frequency of activities are not observed, watering with saline solution can cause significant harm:
- along with the destruction of harmful insects, salt can repel or destroy beneficial ones;
- the composition of the soil changes, the internal ecosystem is disrupted not only within the treated area;
- It will not be possible to grow a good harvest of onions on saline soil; in this case, it is recommended to replace the turf layer.
Before deciding whether to water 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 crop is developing well, it has a sufficient number of feathers, and the above-ground part is green and not pale, then watering with salt water is irrelevant. If the plant looks weak, the feathers are thin, the color is pale - this is a sign of a deficiency of nutrients, most often nitrogen, which is responsible for the growth of green mass.
It is possible to water garlic or onions with a saline solution, 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, its feathers dry out and droop - this is the first sign of pest damage
Initial symptoms appear in early May. At this time, onion fly larvae become more active.
If the season is rainy, the nematode can make itself known at any time of the year. Therefore, in the case of garlic or onions, it is better to prevent the spread of the pest: water the crop at the three-leaf stage.
Garlic, unlike onions, is planted in the spring or before winter.Spring varieties have stronger immunity, so there are no problems with growing them. Two waterings are enough for it: during the period of sprouting and after 20 days. Winter varieties require a more serious approach; before harvesting, they are treated with a salt solution four times. The first procedure is carried out when the feathers reach 7 cm, subsequent ones - at intervals 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 accordance with the proportions. Excessive amounts of sodium chloride are 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 bottle.
How much salt do you need per bucket for watering garlic?
You need 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 approximately 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 salt is taken;
- After another 14 days, watering is repeated with a more concentrated product, which will require 400 g of salt.
In case of severe pest spread, treat onions or garlic with a shock dose, where 600 g of salt is poured onto 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 and onions with salt against diseases and pests depends on the purpose of the event and the degree of infection of the crop. The procedure can be therapeutic, preventive, or used as a top dressing for better vegetation.
Preventative treatment
Preventive measures begin with the treatment 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 kept in the saline solution for 1 hour, then it is taken out and dried
When the crop germinates, monitor the growing season; if there have been cases of pest damage on the site, preventive watering is carried out:
- 250 g of salt are dissolved in 10 liters of warm water.
- In the evening, spray the feathers of garlic and onions and leave until the 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 fertilizer.
Fertilizing garlic
Sodium chloride is rarely used to feed garlic or onions. Brine solution is more effective in controlling pests, but not as a fertilizer. The only advantage of salt is the replenishment of nitrogen reserves in the soil, but the addition of urea is more effective and does not disturb 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 solution again approximately in mid-July. I use salt water (100 g per bucket). After treatment, the remaining product from the green mass is washed off with clean water and the plant is watered abundantly.
Watering garlic with salt to prevent onion flies and other pests
The danger of the onion fly is that it is quite difficult to detect the pest at the first stage. The insect larva overwinters in the soil and, at the first warming, rises to the surface to reproduce. The insect lays eggs in the root of garlic or onion; during the season the insect makes 3 clutches of 60 pieces.
The adult onion fly does not pose a danger to vegetable crops; the main harm from the parasite is observed in the caterpillar stage
When treated with salt, the female cannot get to the middle of the bulb; she has to lay eggs 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 and 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. If this fails, chemicals are used.
Advantages and disadvantages of watering with garlic
Saline solution for watering onions and garlic can only be used in limited quantities and in low concentration. The effectiveness of the product is lower than that of chemical drugs.
Salt displaces adult individuals from the treated area, but this only applies to the onion fly. It is almost impossible to destroy a nematode using 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 are formed in a large size and the above-ground mass is thick with an intense green color.
Frequent watering with salt water disrupts the exchange of nitrogen in the cells of garlic and onions, which leads to the accumulation of carcinogens and ammonia in vegetables.
Sodium and chlorine are the main components of table salt. Even at low concentrations, they displace potassium from the soil, making it heavy with poor aeration.It will not be possible to grow a full-fledged crop on the plot; the crop bulbs will be smaller in size. The folk recipe cannot be used on all soils; the product increases acidity; after treatment, 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 and looks healthy, there is no need to use a folk remedy. Frequent watering without following the dosage of sodium chloride can do more harm to the soil composition than good for garlic or onions.
