Gralic Growing Tips
When to plant garlic
Garlic (Allium sativum) is planted in the fall and harvested in the early summer of the following year. plant around the first light frost, but before the ground freezes solid. in the Northeast, the best time to plant is mid-October to early November. In your location the dates might be different, but there is typically a window of about a month to plant garlic and have good success. Do not plant earlier then this window, as plants that have put on too much growth before winter are less likely to succeed. From the time you receive them until planting time, store them somewhere cool and dry.
How to plant
Pull all weeds in your bed and work the top few inches of soil until loose. Amend the soil with compost or organic fertilizers. break the heads of garlic into cloves. Plant the individual cloves root end (the flat end) down, setting the root end into the soil about 2-4” deep, spaced 6-8” apart, in rows spaced 12-18” apart. Cover the the planted garlic with 4-6” of straw, hay or chopped leaf mulch. In the spring, when temperatures rise and the ground begins to thaw, gently rake the mulch off to the side of the sprouting garlic to help warm the soil. Consider restoring the mulch around the garlic plants once warm weather has settled in. This helps to suppress weeds, though it is not strictly necessary if you cultivate regularly and stay on top of weeding.
Growing condition and care
Garlic prefers rich, weed-free soil and ample water. Beginning the spring, pull weeds when small, taking care not to dislodge the roots of the garlic plant. Apply a nutrient boost when green growth begins, such as a side dress of compost or an application of alfalfa meal. Water regularly, especially in dry periods, until mid-JUne when the garlic begins to mature.
Garlic Scapes
Hardneck varieties produce garlic scapes in the spring. If left on the plant, the scapes will draw energy from the bulb, reducing size and quality. Once the scapes emerge, cut them off immediately to direct the plants energy into bulb production. The scapes are an edible spring delicacy, delicious fresh or prepared in nearly any way.
Harvesting
Harvest in early to mid-summer when the bulbs have swelled and the bottom portion of the plant has turned yellow, before the individual cloves begin to separate from bulb.
Curing and Cleaning
After harvesting, hand the garlic in a warm, dry, drafty, dark place for 4-6 weeks, until the bulbs are completely dry. The curing process is necessary for long term storage. Clean garlic heads after curing, not before. To clean, remove the dry, dirty outer layer and trim the roots and stalk.
Storing
Store garlic in a cool, dry, dark place, leaving only a few heads out on the counter at a time. Kept this way, hardneck garlic can last for up to six months in storage.
Planting Stock
If your crop is healthy and free of disease, save the biggest heads for planting. Make sure the cloves are sold and fat, free of blemishes and mold. Do not plant if garlic begins to soften or rot at the time of planting.