It’s that time of year again…or, if you have never tried growing garlic, it’s time to start. Garlic is RIDICULOUSLY easy to grow, and it overwinters, so it doesn’t really take up too much time or precious space in your garden boxes.
Growing garlic is very simple and straightforward. For starters you want to try and find certified garlic bulbs {most local nurseries have it in stock this time of year}.
Some people just buy garlic bulbs at the grocery store, but a lot of times produce {even bulbs} can be sprayed to slow growth, so I like to buy certified garlic bulbs so I know exactly what I’m getting. Botanical Interests and Territorial Seed have a great selection.
If you grew garlic this year, save your very best bulb and use that for planting. It will already be acclimated to your weather and soil, making it stronger in the long run.
There are softneck and hardneck varieties–each have pros and cons as far as growing and taste is concerned. In general, hardneck are a little more hardy when it comes to cold winters.
Hardneck garlic will send up a scape {basically a fancy word for flower and stalk} in the early summer just before it is time to harvest.
The scape needs to be trimmed off when it curls twice {like a pig’s tail} in order to encourage all of the plant’s energy to develop the bulb. Good news, though: the scapes are edible and delicious.
Softneck are not as winter hardy, but they do produce more cloves per bulb, so if you have mild winters, they might be the right choice. Softneck also store longer than hardneck varieties–though, I have gotten both varieties to store all year long until the next harvest, under the right conditions.
To plant garlic, first break the bulb apart and inspect the cloves for any damage. Toss any cloves that are brown or have decay on them. Next, plant the garlic about 2″ deep and about 6″ apart in loose, well drained soil.
Cover the bulbs with soil, water and walk away. Mother Nature will take care of the rest until spring. Unless of course you live somewhere where it never rains during the fall and winter months. If that’s the case, then be sure and give your garlic bed a drink every now and again.
Once the garlic begins to sprout in the spring, I like to cover my garlic patch with a couple inches of leaf litter to help insulate the garlic bulbs a bit from the cold {if you live in a warmer climate you don’t need to do this}.
I don’t know about you, but I use garlic practically every day in my cooking, so it’s really nice to be able to grow it in my backyard each year for a nice stash when I need it.
- Plant cloves 6 to 8 weeks before a hard freeze so the roots have a chance to get established
- Do not break cloves until you are ready to plant
- Plant cloves 2″ deep with the root end down and the point side up
- Space cloves 4″- 6″ apart {depending on size}
Don’t you just love fall gardening?
Looking for more information in growing, cultivating and enjoying garlic? Check out the book The Complete Book of Garlic By Ted Jordan Meredith. Its packed full of awesomeness.
Deborah says
I have some multiplying garlic that I harvest. I need to separate it. I love using garlic.
Tammy says
I’m determined to grow garlic this year. We haven’t ever tried it! But we have plans to grow it this year for sure! I love garlic and like you, use it almost every single day.
Helen says
I’m certainly gonna do it!!! Wish me luck
Deborah from FL says
I love love love garlic, and have tried to grow it. For the past three years I’ve tried my best. Each time, they came from a nursery, and were a varities which are successful in my area. I’ve tried different locations, different mediums, different garden-mates, using containers, even indoors. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I’ve yet to anything larger than a marble. 🙁
P.S. I’m not giving up. Just quite perplexed.
Dd says
Have you tried planting according to the moon phase? I recently read a blog where the lady planted one clove on an off moon phase and the rest during the correct moon phase. They were planted next to each other so it wasn’t a dirt issue. The difference was amazing. The one stayed small while the rest all had a good head. It’s worth a try.
Thesce Ptic says
Sorry but that sounds absolutely bollocks.
Meryil says
The moon phase works as it provides water at a certain time. Like how the tides are controlled by the moon, the underground water tables respond and rise the same. The correct amount of moisture helps seeds germinate or the seeds or bulbs will stay inert. One of the Royal gardens (massive garden) was planted by moon phases and the Gardner does not water it. Go do some research. It will work.
DebbieB says
I live in a condo so I was wondering if these could be grown in a container? I would like to do more with my little outside space (balcony) than just a few flowers. I did grow some basil and chives this summer which was very easy. Someday maybe I’ll even try tomatoes!
NeverMind says
Yes, you can plant them in a container. Use a well draining mix (e.g. compost + vermiculite). You can plant about 12 to 15 cloves in a 16″ diameter pot.
Lisa Millar says
You cannot have too much garlic! 🙂 I love having it in the garden. Ours are about halfway along now.
Usually I prepare the soil with a bit of fertiliser like blood and bone, and also some lime to ‘sweeten’ the soil a bit which they like.
We also mulch with seaweed.
I also don’t buy seed anymore as we save enough from the harvest each season to replant and sometimes mix the seed up with some from one of my cousins – just for variety.
From there you don’t have to do much at all!! Nice and easy
Gerri says
How do u store it?
Pat says
Debra from FL
This is my first year trying garlic. The woman at the garden store told me to put a little Bone Meal in the bottom of each hole and mix it in with the dirt. Then plant the bulbs on top of this. Guess they love bone meal!! Don’t give up. Keep trying!!
Autumn says
How will you know when they are ready to harvest? I’m thinking of growing some this winter.
Mavis Butterfield says
This should help. http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/when-to-harvest-garlic-and-garlic-scapes/
Leilani says
So I’m supposed to trim them back when they get tall? How tall? I just planted them a few weeks ago and they are growing so nicely. I have some in water inside and some in a pot outside. I didn’t do any of the ground because I heard they don’t do good in the soil with other vegetables especially if they don’t grow and it’s a bad batch. My garden is kinda small so I didn’t want to take that chance.
NeverMind says
Instead of using a dedicated planting area for them, I plant my garlic, spring onions and chives every 4″ to 6″ along the lines between my squares in a square-foot garden. They do a great job of keeping aphids (and vampires) away from my veggies.
Denise Williams says
Do garlic need tons of sun like vegetables do?
Linda says
Will deer eat garlic? They come right up to my house and eat my plants.
patti says
the very first year we planted garlic, they shot up with their green blades in late fall…we waited until after scapes curled and foliage yellowed before picking. we dried them on a rack. I didn’t know about not pulling them when it’s wet, so they were quite muddy but they were beautiful! and then when I began to sort them after drying I was heartbroken; they were infested with tiny brownish black bugs (? mites?) and threw most of them away. I am afraid to invest in garlic this year. any suggestions or lessons to learn here? thanks.
Lorraine Best says
Beware if ordering from Territorial this year. Both my bulbs arrived yesterday with rot. I have contacted them for a refund but it is too early to report the status.