Garlic (Kitunguu Saumu) Farming in Kenya.

A thread.

Garlic farming has not been fully adopted by many farmers due to lack of sufficient information and a number of challenges.

However, it is one of the most precious horticultural crops.

Two common varieties are in the Kenyan market: Soft top and hard top. We have white n purple.

Seeding
Garlic has no known seeds from local agrovets.
Propagation of bulbs remains the most viable n possibly the only option.

They have one of the longest dormancy of 8 months.
If bulbs are sourced locally, you can reduce the germination period to just 3 days!!
Why?

Imported garlic has undergone various treatments ranging from freezing to electric heat treatment.

Garlic from Europe has cold treatment for preservation.

Garlic from China undergoes electric heating for preservation.

Such bulbs have the longest dormancy.

DON'T USE THEM!

You might need hormonal stimulation to break the 8 months dormancy from such imported bulbs.

Source local garlic bulbs for germination.