All About Garlic-Planting, Harvesting and Storing

Fall is the perfect time to plant garlic in most regions, especially those in the northern hemisphere. Garlic is exceedingly easy to grow and very resilient to pests and diseases. Planting in fall provides garlic with a dormancy period that gives the plant a chance to form healthy roots and develop into bigger bulbs.

Where to Plant Garlic

Garlic performs best when planted after the autumnal equinox in late September in most regions. It prefers well-drained, rich soil with a pH of around 6.4-6.8, adding 2-3 inches of compost to the soil before planting or using a slow release organic fertilizer can help achieve this. Garlic prefers a spot in the garden where it can receive 6-8 hours of sunlight. Garlic os in the Allium family and should not be planted somewhere where Allium plants have been the following year, this includes onions, shallots, leeks, scallions and chives.

How to Plant Garlic

Plant the garlic in full sun in well-drained soil so it can form a strong root system
Amend the soil if needed, a 5-10-10 fertilizer, bone meal or fish meal mixed into the first couple inches of soil works well
Separate the garlic bulb into cloves a few days before planting with paper husk still on, use the largest, healthiest cloves-the bigger the cloves the bigger the bulbs
Plant cloves root side down, pointy side up into the soil, 2 inches deep, 4-8 inches apart, leaving 6-12 inches between rows.
Mulch beds with straw or leaves to ensure proper overwintering in areas where the ground freezes

Hardneck vs Softneck Varieties

Garlic comes in two main varieties Hardneck and Softneck, the type you plant will be determined by your climate. Hardneck varieties are best for Northern climates. They are extremely cold hardy and as a bonus produce garlic scapes in spring that can be used in cooking. Some great hardneck varieties to look for are-Music, Chesnok Red and Spanish Roja. Hardneck varieties tend to have a more complex flavor profile but not as long of a storage period as softneck varieties. Softneck varieties are more suitable for those growing in a Southern climate and do best in more mild winters. They have more intense flavors and grow bigger bulbs and are the most often garlic found in stores due to their long storage life. Some great hardneck varieties to look for are California White, Lorz Italian and Inchelium Red.

Garlic Planting Recommendation Chart

Growing Garlic

In spring remove mulch when freeze has passed and warmer temperatures arrive, young shoots should emerge
Fertilize in early spring with a fertilizer or compost that has plenty of nitrogen and again in late spring
Keep sight well weeded so that it does not have to compete for nutrients
In hardneck varieties a shoot will produce a garlic scape that should be removed and can be used in cooking
Do not let the garlic shoot flower or they will lose about 20-35% of their potential growth
Water garlic every 3-5 days during the bulbing period-May-June

Harvesting Garlic

Garlic is ready to harvest anywhere from June to August depending on your region and type
A good rule of thumb is to look for yellowing foliage and tops beginning to fall over but harvest before the are completely dry and dig up a test garlic to check
Carefully dig up the bulb using a garden fork, you can tell if the bulb is not ready if papery husk is thin, if left too long the bulbs easily split apart and will not store as long
Once out of ground gently brush off soil but do not wash or remove any foliage or roots before drying

Drying and Storage

Garlic should be cured in a shady, dry spot for at least 2 weeks and should be hung upside down on a homemade rack or tied upside down in bunches of 4-5 garlic bulbs with string.
After about 2-4 weeks the garlic should be dry and you can brush off the remaining dirt and trim roots to ¼ an inch and cut tops to 1-2 inches
Garlic should be stored in cool, dark area such as a basement or root cellar and should not be stored in high humidity, refrigerator or washed before storage
Hardneck varieties can be stored well for about 4-6 months, while Softneck varieties can be stored well for about 6-8 months

You can save the biggest, healthiest bulbs and replant the garlic you harvested in summer the following fall. These garlic bulbs will be better adapted for your climate and growing conditions and will get better and better every year!

Happy Planting!

Jac

All About Garlic