Ukrainian growers report that garlic seed material reacts differently when moved between climatic zones. According to Serhiy Parashchenko, founder of LLC Pure Product, planting garlic from warm regions in colder areas can reduce output. He noted that the reverse scenario often works more effectively.
Parashchenko said Ukrainian varieties show strong performance in Spain, where they form more leaves and larger bulbs. He explained that attempts to build Ukrainian production using Spanish seed material have not been successful, and that non-shooting varieties offer limited prospects under Ukrainian conditions. He added that production outcomes differ further in Spain, Israel, and India.
He stated that Ukrainian garlic shoots more effectively in Spain than in Ukraine. In Spain, plants can produce around 14 leaves, compared with 7 to 8 in Ukraine. The absence of winter stress and more stable growing conditions on the Iberian Peninsula contribute to this response.
Parashchenko observed that Ukrainian garlic in Spain can develop additional internal cloves, while in Ukraine, bulbs typically form a single clove row. He added that in countries such as Germany and France, the same varieties only partially shoot, limiting performance.
He concluded that garlic responds strongly to zoning and retains what he described as genetic memory, which affects how each variety adapts.
Source: AgroNews
