Garlic is often associated with strong flavors, mythical creatures, and pungent aromas. However, the reality of growing this versatile ingredient is much more approachable than many might assume. Not only does it require minimal effort, but garlic also boasts a range of health benefits, making it an attractive addition to any garden or kitchen. If you’re interested in cultivating your own garlic, you’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, we’ll delve into the steps for growing, caring for, and storing garlic, empowering you to whip up a delicious meal or keep those pesky vampires at bay in no time.
Quick Gardening Facts for Garlic
To grow healthy and thriving garlic, you’ll need to consider the hardiness zone (3-9), soil conditions (loamy with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0), and sun exposure. For optimal results, plant your cloves 4-5 weeks before the last frost date or 6-8 weeks before the first frost date. Fall planting is generally recommended for bigger bulbs. Space your plants 3-4 inches apart and 6-8 inches between rows, burying them 2-3 inches deep.
Some of the best companions for garlic include roses, apples, peaches, rue, chamomile, potatoes, kale, dill, and yarrow. Avoid planting near beans, peas, sage, or parsley as these can be detrimental to your crop. Water your garlic lightly after planting, increasing frequency every 3-5 days during the bulbing stage. Prior to planting, apply a layer of compost manure 2-3 inches deep, and consider using an all-purpose fertilizer at a rate of two times per month.
Common issues that may arise include purple blotch, downy mildew, rust, white rot, garlic mosaic, leafminers, bulb mites, onion maggot, thrips, and lesion nematode. Harvest your garlic when the majority of leaves have turned brown, typically 90-100 days after indoor start.
Garlic Varieties to Plant
When it comes to growing garlic, most people are surprised to learn that there’s not just one type, but rather two primary categories. Within each category, you’ll find a range of popular varieties to choose from. Here’s a breakdown of the main types and their respective options for your garden:
Soft Neck
The most commonly found garlic at the grocery store is of this type, characterized by its flexible stalk and soft neck. Several popular varieties include Silver Skin and Artichoke. The Silver Skin variety boasts a bold flavor and can be stored for up to one year after drying, making it a great option for those looking to stockpile their garlic. On the other hand, the Artichoke variety is ideal for those who prefer a milder flavor, as its taste is less potent than that of some other varieties.
Hard Neck
Hard neck garlic, as its name suggests, boasts a rigid stem that extends the entire length of the plant. Within this family, there are several notable varieties worth exploring. For instance, Purple Stripe is particularly well-suited for baking or roasting garlic cloves, making it an ideal choice for those who crave this type of culinary preparation.
Another popular option is Rocambole, which stands out for its ease of use in cooking – its peels effortlessly and retains its flavor for up to six months when dried, making it a great option for cooks who value convenience.
How to Plant Garlic
While garlic may not be a traditional seed, its unique characteristics actually make planting a breeze. To ensure the best results, it’s essential to follow some simple steps and heed a few important recommendations. Here’s how to get started:
When to Plant Garlic
When it comes to planting garlic, timing is everything. Depending on your planting zone, you may want to consider either spring or fall planting. In general, if you reside in a northern climate, autumn is the better option. This allows the garlic bulbs sufficient time to establish a robust root system and produce decent-sized bulbs before the ground thaws in the spring.
To ensure optimal growth, plant your garlic bulbs eight weeks prior to your region’s first frost date.
Be sure to surround each bulb with a six-inch layer of mulch for added insulation during the cold winter months.
Conversely, if you live in a southern climate, spring planting is the way to go. As soon as the soil thaws enough for comfortable working, begin planting your garlic bulbs, allowing them ample time to develop a sturdy root system and produce high-quality bulbs.
Where to Plant Garlic
When it comes to growing garlic, I highly recommend utilizing raised beds or containers as the ideal medium for its cultivation. The benefits of this approach lie in the ease with which you can create a soil environment that allows the bulbs to spread and grow freely. By incorporating compost into the soil and planting directly in it, you can select the perfect location that provides your garlic with full sun exposure.
Furthermore, raised beds offer improved drainage, which is crucial for garlic’s growth as it requires well-draining, loose, and loamy soil conditions. Regardless of the method you choose, be sure to amend the soil to ensure its optimal condition for a healthy and thriving garlic crop.
Putting Garlic in the Ground
One of the most significant advantages of planting garlic is its ability to thrive in small spaces. To achieve this, I plant multiple bulbs close together, leaving only a foot or less between each row. This proximity allows for optimal growth and ensures each bulb has sufficient room to flourish.
When sowing the bulbs, aim to bury them approximately two inches deep, with around four inches of space separating each one. To maximize yields, it’s crucial to break apart the bulbs before planting.
This simple step will yield multiple cloves that can each give rise to a new plant.
As you place the bulbs in the soil, position the broad side facing downwards and leave the narrow, pointy end protruding above the surface. Finally, cover the bulb with soil, leaving only the point exposed.
How to Care for Garlic
Tending to garlic requires minimal effort, yet yields significant rewards. By following these straightforward guidelines, you can create an ideal environment for your garlic to flourish.
Remove Mulch
In regions with cold winters, it’s essential to provide protection to garlic bulbs by mulching them. Once the last chance of frost has dissipated, carefully remove the mulch to allow sunlight and air circulation around the plants.
Cut the Flowers
When spring arrives, it’s not uncommon to witness a peculiar phenomenon in garlic plants – they produce flowers at the tips of their stems. If you spot this blooming, consider snipping off the blossoms.
By redirecting energy and nutrients towards the blooms, garlic bulbs essentially divert resources away from their own growth, resulting in smaller, less robust harvests.
Ditch the Weeds
In the early stages of spring, weeds are typically not a concern. However, as the days pass, you may notice a few opportunistic invaders popping up between your garlic bulbs. To address this issue, I employ a gentle approach, running my fingers between the bulbs to carefully pluck out the unwanted growth. It’s essential to avoid pulling too forcefully, lest you disturb the delicate roots of your garlic plants.
As part of my regular maintenance routine, I make it a point to inspect and tend to my garlic bed once a week. This involves gently teasing out any lingering weeds, ensuring that vital nutrients are directed towards the garlic rather than its unwanted companions. As the growing season progresses, the garlic stalks will eventually grow robust enough to suppress weed growth, reducing the need for frequent intervention.
With this approach, I’m able to maintain a weed-free environment that allows my garlic to thrive.
Keep an Eye on the Nitrogen
When cultivating garlic, it’s essential to monitor soil nitrogen levels, as they are crucial for healthy plant growth. Nitrogen-loving plants like garlic require regular fertilization to thrive. To ensure optimal conditions, fertilize your garlic every couple of months. If you notice the stems starting to turn yellow, it may be a sign of nitrogen deficiency. Address this issue promptly by fertilizing and observe how your garlic responds.
Water Adequately
Garlic cultivation demands consistent watering, with varying needs depending on the growing season. From July to April, provide about 1/2 to 1 inch of water per week, delivered once a week. This steady supply fosters healthy growth and bulb development. However, when May and June arrive, garlic’s growth accelerates, requiring more substantial hydration.
During these months, three watering sessions per week, each providing at least an inch of water, will support the maturation of your garlic bulbs.
Prune as You Wish
While some may argue that garlic requires pruning, the truth is that it’s not necessary. However, if you’re growing a hard neck variety, the stems become a valuable ingredient in your culinary creations. To make the most of this bonus, simply trim the tips of the garlic and use them as a flavorful addition to your dishes. Whether sautéed or used as a garnish, these stems can add depth and complexity to a wide range of meals.
Common Problems with Garlic
Garlic is an excellent choice for novice gardeners due to its low-maintenance requirements. This versatile herb doesn’t demand excessive care, and its natural defenses make it resistant to most pests and diseases. In fact, garlic is often used as a deterrent against unwanted visitors in the garden, including vampires, which are naturally repelled by its pungent aroma. As a result, few creatures dare venture near this potent plant.
Some of the common pests that garlic can effectively deter include Japanese beetles, cabbage loopers, fungus gnats, ants, snails, aphids, and mosquitoes. While it’s not completely immune to threats, white rot is one of the primary concerns, which can infect bulbs during cold weather.
Unfortunately, there’s no foolproof method to prevent or cure white rot once it sets in.
However, you can take preventative measures by keeping your garden immaculately clean and rotating crops regularly, as spores from the fungus can remain dormant in soil for extended periods. If you’ve already encountered this issue, consider sterilizing your soil before replanting garlic, ideally after a few years have passed.
Best and Worst Companions
While garlic can be a powerful addition to many gardens, its unique properties also make it an ideal companion for certain plants. In fact, some vegetables and herbs thrive when planted alongside garlic. For instance, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, carrots, potatoes, spinach, broccoli, kohlrabi, beets, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, dill, and even fruit trees all seem to enjoy the benefits of garlic’s presence.
On the other hand, there are a few plants that don’t fare as well when planted near garlic. Parsley, sage, peas, asparagus, and beans appear to be negatively impacted by garlic’s strong scent, so it may be best to keep these companions separate.
How to Harvest and Store Your Garlic
Harvesting and storing garlic is a straightforward extension of the entire process. You’ve invested time and effort into cultivating your own garlic, and now it’s time to reap the rewards. To get started, simply follow these steps:
Check the Tops
As your garlic plants reach maturity, pay attention to the color change and top drooping. When the yellowing begins, it’s almost time to dig in! Aim for a gentle lift under the bulb with your garden fork, taking care not to disturb the surrounding soil. If you’re satisfied with the size of the harvestable bulbs, congratulations – it’s time to reap what you’ve sown. However, if they’re still growing or looking a bit too dry, keep an eye on them and adjust accordingly.
Remember, timely harvesting is key: if the tops start to shrivel up, it’s game over! Regular checks will help ensure you don’t miss the optimal window for garlic gold.
Lift and Pull
Harvesting garlic isn’t complex, yet timing is crucial. The ideal harvest time depends on when you planted your garlic. Northern gardeners who start their garlic in early fall may be ready to harvest by July, while those in southern regions planting in March might not reap the rewards until November. A keen eye on the developing garlic tops is essential for ensuring a timely harvest.
When the moment arrives to collect your entire crop, employ a garden fork to gently unearth each bulb, lifting it from the soil with care. This labor of love will ensure every single bulb is safely harvested and removed from the soil.
Curing is a Necessity
To begin the process of curing your harvested garlic bulbs, start by gently dusting off any dirt that may have accumulated on their surfaces. Be cautious not to dislodge the wrapping around each bulb, as this is crucial for maintaining its integrity. Once clean, hang the bulbs upside down in a shaded area with adequate airflow. Allow them to remain suspended in this manner for 14 days, permitting each bulb sufficient time to undergo the curing process.
As the wrappers become dry and take on the texture of tissue paper, your garlic bulbs will be ready for long-term storage.
Braid and Store
To prepare garlic bulbs for storage, start by removing any leaves and trimming back the roots. Be sure to leave the natural wrappers intact, only cleaning those that are excessively dirty. If you prefer to store individual cloves, cut the tops off and place them in a wooden tray with sawdust or straw between layers. Alternatively, you can keep the tops attached and braid the bulbs together for a decorative storage solution.
For optimal storage, choose a location that’s dark, dry, and maintains a consistent temperature around 40°F. This will ensure your garlic stays fresh throughout the year.
Plant Again
One of the most rewarding aspects of growing your own garlic is its ability to self-perpetuate. By carefully selecting and preserving the largest bulbs from your initial harvest, you can use them to sow a new crop the following year. This process allows for the continuous cultivation of garlic, as long as proper steps are taken to plant and care for the bulbs.
