Garlic Tips
Garlic is delicious, flavorful, and easy to grow. You can grow garlic in rows by itself, or you can plant it amongst your other vegetables in your organic garden. The odor of garlic that is growing will keep some insect pests out of your garden.
Compost is essential to growing healthy garlic. Apply 2-3 inches of compost to the area where you are going to grow garlic and mix it into the soil. Garlic likes lots of organic matter in the soil where it is growing. After mixing with the soil, level the area out.
The best time to plant garlic is in the Fall, just before the ground freezes. This is typically in late September or in October. While the garlic will start to grow, you don’t want too much outgrowth before the first freeze. And, it is best if you don’t have any. You would like the garlic to start putting out roots before the ground freezes and then let “old man winter” hold it until Spring returns.
Use garlic bulbs for planting your own garlic. These are readily available at most nursuries. Another choice would be to purchase these online at GARDENS ALIVE (see right sidebar). There are many varieties to choose from and you will have fun trying a mixture of these varieties.
To plant, take the garlic bulb and break it into cloves. Each clove will generate a new garlic plant. You can remove part of the outside flaky skin, but it is best if you leave a light layer of skin. Dig your hole 2″ – 2-1/2” deep and keep plants about 6″ apart. If you plant in several rows, also keep each row about 6″ apart. Insert your cloves into these holes with the root-side down and the point up. If you are uncertain about which way is the root-side, place the clove on its’ side – the roots will still emerge and they will know which way to grow.
The following Spring, your garlic will emerge from the ground and continue to grow. You will know it is time to harvest when 6-pair of leaves emerge from the stalk and when the pair of leaves half way up the stalk starts to turn yellow. To harvest, use a pitch fork and stick it in the ground about 4″ away from the plant. Go straight down about 8″ and pry-up as you grab the stalk and pull up. Wipe the excess dirt off and store in a shaded area – direct sunlight will burn the fresh bulb.
After harvesting, store the bulbs with stalk attached on screens until they are totally dry. This will take 2 – 3 weeks. If you do not completely dry them, a mold can develop amongst the garlic bulbs. After they are dry, you can remove the stalks. Your garlic is now ready to enjoy and will keep for 5 – 9 months. You may also want to sort out a number of these garlic bulbs to use in growing your next organic garden.
If you are new to organic gardening or you would like to learn more, try either one of these two great eBooks: Organic Gardening Magic or My Organic Garden. Or, try them both! Satisfaction Guaranteed for your organic garden needs, or your money back.