Let’s Grow Garlic
It's time! November is the perfect time to tuck your garlic in the ground. Garlic does best when planted in the fall and allowed to overwinter. Today we're going to dive into how to plant garlic and why you would want to grow it. I hope you're inspired to plant your own garlic!
This is my third time planting garlic. I just love growing it. It's the best feeling to have something growing even in the coldest and darkest months of the year. Garlic is an easy keeper. Once you've got it in the ground it doesn't need much tending. You can even plant it in pots if you don't have a dedicated garden plot.
Why should I grow garlic?
For starters, the taste is fantastic. There's nothing like fresh garlic that you've grown yourself! Garlic can be "cured" (dried) and used for several months. You can also freeze garlic in olive oil to use throughout the year. Garlic has a lot of medicinal properties and is full of antioxidants. It can be used in lots of home remedies. Garlic is also easy to grow. It's great for beginners who want to start growing their own produce.
What type of garlic should I grow?
There are two types of garlic that are commonly grown - hardneck and softneck. Both types of garlics have pros and cons which I am going to briefly outline. I personally grow hardneck garlic but would eventually like to try my hand at softneck garlic.
Hardneck Garlic:
Has a hard center stem
Cold tolerant
Produces a garlic scape that should be trimmed back and can be eaten (they're delicious!)
When cured stores 4-6 months
Not often found in grocery stores due to shorter storage life
Easier to peel
Needs colder temperatures to grow
Softneck Garlic:
Has a soft stem and is easy to braid
Does not produce a garlic scape
Has a mild flavor
Longer storage life - about 1 year
Harder to peel
Prefers milder winters and does not need cold temperatures to grow
Likes well-draining soil
How do I plant garlic?
You can buy seed garlic at most local seed shops or farm supply stores. I've also seen it for sale online. Once you buy seed garlic you won't need to but it again. You can save several of your best bulbs and plant them the next year.
Garlic should be planted after a few frosts but before the ground completely freezes and hardens. If you plant garlic too early it will sprout and have a harder time surviving the winter. Typically, in Pennsylvania, the end of October through November is the best time to plant garlic.
Start by prepping you soil. You want it to be well tilled. If the soil is compacted it will be harder for your garlic to push against the soil and produce a large bulb. Next, dig a trench about 3 inches deep. Place your garlic cloves pointed side up about 4-6 inches apart in your trench. I was taught that you want to plant your garlic about twice the depth of the garlic clove. So, for example, you would plant a one-inch clove two inches deep.
Cover the garlic cloves over with soil. Next add 4-6 inches of "insulation" to your garlic row. I like to use straw, but you could get creative and use dried leaves or other natural materials. Throughout the winter check to make sure that there is still an adequate amount of straw covering the garlic row. Add more if needed. The great thing about using straw to cover your row is that you won't have to weed it in the spring. It works well to prevent weeds from popping up.
In early spring you will see the garlic start to sprout. The garlic plants will slowly grow larger. If you're growing hardneck garlic, your plants will produce a garlic scape sometime around June. The scape needs to be trimmed so that the plant puts all of its energy into growing a larger bulb.
Harvest garlic when the lower leaves of the plant turn brown. I recommend pulling up one or two bulbs to make sure they're well developed before harvesting all of your garlic. Leave the stem/leaves intact and hang garlic in a well-ventilated, dark, dry environment to cure for a few weeks.
That's really all there is to it! If you're thinking of trying to grow garlic - go for it! You'll be glad you did! Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts on garlic!
Thanks for reading,
Abby
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