The A to Z of Growing Garlic

Are you considering growing garlic? From its culinary and medicinal value, garlic has been used for many years. It is one of those kitchen ingredients that are a powerhouse of nutrients.

Growing garlic is a rewarding task that allows you to enjoy a variety of flavors.

Moreover, it is an easy crop to grow and doesn't take up a lot of space as you can grow it in a pot, bed, or garden. Besides, it is cost-effective as you will only require some cloves, to begin with.

Learn the simple technique of planting garlic from preparation to harvesting below.

When to Plant Garlic

Are you wondering when it's best to grow garlic? This crop grows best when it receives sunlight for 6 to 8 hours daily. If you grow your garlic in a container or a bed, ensure it is exposed to sunlight.

Tip: Garlic bulbs need low temperatures to grow so it's best to start planting before winter kicks in. Ideally, it is best to plant before the ground freezes, preferably 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost date.

Fall is ideal since young shoots cannot survive extremely low temperatures. This is when garlic bulbs grow healthy roots before temperatures decrease.

Steps to Follow when Planting Garlic

Growing garlic requires patience as it takes 7 to 8 months from planting to harvesting. As covered below, great produce depends on temperatures, soil drainage, and the planting process.

Get the Right Garlic Cloves

Ø Begin by choosing large and healthy garlic cloves for better productivity. It is advisable not to use garlic from the supermarket as they are chemically treated to inhibit sprouting. That means that they wouldn’t germinate. What a waste that would be!

Ø In addition, garlic from the supermarket may also not be certified disease-free, affecting your productivity. Instead, get organic garlic from trusted seed suppliers or the farmers' market.

Ø It is beneficial to know how different varieties of garlic respond before planting. For instance, hardneck bulbs are a great choice for areas with cold winters since they are harder. On the other hand, softneck garlic does better in light winters.

Ø After getting your cloves, separate them from the bulbs but keep the skins intact and the cloves from bruising.

The Process of Planting Garlic

Ø The second step is preparing the soil by mixing it with compost manure. To increase nutrients in the soil, add a few tablespoons of fishmeal, bone meal or fertilizer before planting the cloves.

Tip: Opt for mulched raised beds if your soil is clay or has poor drainage. This is because poorly drained soil makes the cloves rot. Garlic thrives in fertile soil with a pH between 6 and 7.

Ø Plant the individual cloves one to two inches deep and 10 to 15 cm apart, with the tip facing up and the wider side facing down. Keep the rows spacing 12 inches or 30cm apart.

Ø After planting, water the area to help the soil to settle all over the bulbs. Add some hay or straw to the bed to help retain warmth when the temperatures drop. Mulching also helps to prevent weeds. You can remove the mulch later when it is warmer.

Ø Continue to water the bulbs once a week and ensure that there is no stagnant water around the bulbs. Taper the water supply as the bulbs mature. You won't have to worry about pests as garlic repels them.

Caution: You must get rid of weeds as they are likely to choke your bulbs in competition for nutrients and water.

Birds also threaten your germinating bulbs as they may pull them out, so use protective netting.

Ø You can introduce manure in spring, and when the leaves begin yellowing, apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer with a 5-10-10 formula. Over-application of the fertilizers will affect the flavor of the garlic bulbs.

Ø As the bulbs near maturation, edible scapes, or garlic stems, appear, which you can prune and add to recipes. Pruning the scapes improves the harvest, but you risk compromising bulb growth by overdoing it.

When Can You Harvest Garlic?

Harvesting garlic is best done in summer. Sunny weather helps the bulbs dry, which is helpful for long shelf life. Knowing when to harvest garlic can be confusing, but the trick is in the color of the foliage.

Tip: The first clue that harvesting is almost ready is the yellowing of the foliage. When more than half the foliage then turns brown, you can harvest.

The right timing is also crucial during harvest. If you harvest too early, the result will be thin clove skins that you won’t store for too long. Contrarily, if you leave bulbs left for too long, they will split apart and be prone to diseases and decay.

To ensure your crop is ready, use a garden fork to dig up one bulb but avoid yanking the bulbs. Check whether the garlic head is plump and the clove skins are thick and papery to the touch.

Once you dig up the bulbs, brush off the soil and allow them to dry but be careful not to leave the bulbs in the sun for long. As you enjoy your harvest, keep the best bulbs for planting in the next season.

To enjoy the unique taste of garlic for longer it’s recommended that you store your bulbs in a well-aerated and shady place. Curing helps to preserve the savor of your crop. After you have dried and cured your garlic, it’s time for storage. You can decide to hang braided garlic, freeze it, or even preserve it as a pickle.

Conclusion

Buying garlic from the store is easy, but it is more satisfying to grow your own. When you follow the steps above, you will enjoy planting and harvesting garlic. It is an easy crop to grow and maintain, not to mention all the health benefits.

To begin, you only require garlic cloves, a garden fork, fertilizer, hay or straw, and a watering can. Getting healthy and organic cloves to yield a good harvest is crucial.

Planting in the fall gives the cloves ample time to grow before they go dormant in winter. Once you have soil with good drainage, you can plant your cloves. A few inches of mulching keep your bulbs from low temperatures that might hinder growth.

Fertilizer in the right measurement goes a long way in ensuring the good health of your bulbs. If you ensure that you water your bulbs and check for weeds, your plants will be healthy.

Harvesting is not complex as the clue is in the leaves. Harvesting in summer is also key to maximizing your productivity. After you dry and cure your garlic, you can continue enjoying your harvest and save some for the next season. Try these steps and grow garlic like a pro!