Basic Info On Garlic Farming

Garlic does well in altitude of 500-2000m above sea level, average temperature of 24-30 degrees Celsius for bulb formation. The optimum temperature for garlic production is 12-24 degrees Celsius.

The soil should be well drained with a pH of 5.5-6.8. Clay soil should be avoided as it leads to formation of malformed bulbs.

Garlic requires water during the early stages of growth, however excess rainfall or irrigation during bulb formation is detrimental and leads to low yields.

Apply organic manure at a rate of 20kg/ha before planting, 200 kg/ha DSP at planting. And 150 kg/ha CAN when plants start growing after transplanting to encourage early vegetative growth and 150 kg/ha CAN at the onset of bulbing.

Cloves are separated and mainly used as the propagation material because garlic does not produce seeds. Cloves are sown in drills 30-40 cm apart and 10-15 cm within the rows.

The main garlic producing counties in Kenya are Bungoma, Narok, Meru, Bomet and Nyeri.