Garlic Planting Guidelines
Tis the season to plant garlic. Garlic is both a culinary and medicinal herb. The garlic bulbs sprout in the autumn, over-winter until they begin growing vigorously in the spring and is harvested in the summer. There are two types of garlic: hard-neck and soft-neck. Hard-neck garlic has a hard stem with uniform bulbs that are typically small. Soft-neck garlic, the most common variety found in grocery stores, has a soft center stem with larger irregular bulbs. Although elephant garlic is not a true garlic rather a member of the onion family, this is still the time of year to plant.
Maximum Flavor the First Year
It is best to purchase the mother bulbs or sets from a local nursery or farm for maximum flavor the first year. Grocery store bought garlic will result in flavorless garlic the first year of planting. However, if you plant the bulbs you harvest, the second years’ crop will have increased in flavor and should be maximized by the third year. Again, this is preventable by planting local varieties, which have the added benefit of resisting local pests and diseases.
1. Use loose, well-draining soil.
2. Amend the soil with rich organic matter.
3. Break bulbs into cloves.
4. Plant cloves base end down.
5. Plant 4” deep, 2-3” apart, in rows 1 foot apart (6” in a raised bed).
4. Cover loosely with soil.
5. Water in.
6. Be Patience.
Harvest & Storage
In the summer, when tops fall over and turn brown it’s time to harvest the garlic. Air dry bulbs then remove tops and roots. Store dried bulbs in a cool place. Alternatively, braid freshly cut garlic. Hang in a cool dark place to dry. Enjoy!
Garlic flowers that have bloomed make uniquely beautiful dried flowers. Simply cut the stem and place, upright, in a dry flower vase. Allow to dry completely before use.
Crafts
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