Garlic

 For Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, the best time to plant garlic is October to November.

Garlic cultivation calendar for Ziro

• October–November ✅ Best planting time

  • Plant healthy cloves 3–5 cm deep.

  • This allows good root development during the cool season.

• December–January

  • Vegetative growth.

  • Keep the field weed-free.

  • Irrigate only if the soil becomes dry.

• February–March

  • Bulbs begin to enlarge.

  • Apply the final top dressing if needed.

  • Avoid excessive irrigation.

• April–May

  • Harvest when 50–70% of the leaves turn yellow and fall over.

  • Cure the bulbs in a shaded, well-ventilated place for 10–15 days before storage.

Recommended spacing

• Between rows: 15–20 cm

• Between plants: 8–10 cm

Suitable varieties

For Ziro, look for varieties such as:

• Yamuna Safed (G-1) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Yamuna Safed-2 (G-50) ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

• Agrifound White (G-41) ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Profitability

Garlic can be a good seasonal cash crop in Ziro because:

• ✅ It has strong demand throughout the year.

• ✅ Stores well after curing.

• ✅ Fits well into crop rotations with vegetables and other seasonal crops.

For garlic, the soil does not need to be extremely deep, but it should be loose, fertile, and well drained so the bulbs can expand properly.

Soil depth

• Ideal effective soil depth: 20–30 cm (8–12 inches)

• Minimum workable depth: 15 cm (6 inches)

Planting depth

• Plant each clove 3–5 cm (1–2 inches) deep.

• Place the clove with the pointed end facing upward.

Best soil for garlic

• Soil type: Sandy loam or loam

• pH: 6.0–7.0

• Rich in organic matter

• Good drainage (garlic does not tolerate waterlogged soil)

For Ziro

Because Ziro receives heavy rainfall:

• Make raised beds 15–20 cm high.

• Ensure water can drain away quickly.

• Add well-rotted compost before planting.

This will help produce larger, healthier garlic bulbs and reduce the risk of fungal diseases and bulb rot.