First, choose a sunny spot in your garden with well-draining soil to plant your garlic cloves. Break apart the garlic bulb into individual cloves, making sure to keep the papery skin intact. Plant each clove about 2 inches deep and 4 inches apart, with the pointed end facing up. Water regularly, especially during dry periods, and mulch around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds. With proper care, you'll soon be enjoying fresh, homegrown garlic in your favorite dishes.
1. Select the appropriate garlic varieties:
Hardneck and Softneck are the two most common varieties. Colder temperatures are more suited to hardneck garlic, whereas milder climates are better suited to softneck garlic.
You may get organic garlic bulbs at a farmer's market or buy seed garlic from a reliable source.
2. Get the soil ready:
Pick a spot with plenty of sunlight and soil that drains well.
Garlic thrives on loamy soil that is pH-balanced between 6.0 and 7.0. Working with compost or aged manure results in soil enrichment.
The recommended spacing between rows is 6 to 8 inches, while the recommended spacing between cloves is 4 to 6 inches.
3. Set the garlic seeds
Garlic cloves should be planted in the autumn, four to six weeks before the ground freezes. Early spring is a good time to plant in warmer areas.
Soil Depth:
Plant each clove, pointy end up, two to three inches deep.
To keep the cloves safe from the elements throughout the winter, spread a thick layer of mulch (straw or leaves) over the planting area.
4. Garlic Maintenance
Watering: Avoid waterlogging while keeping the soil continuously wet, particularly during dry times.
Fertilizing: When growth starts up again in the spring, apply a balanced fertilizer. Apply compost as a side dressing or use a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen.
To lessen competition for nutrients, keep the area clean of weeds.
5. Garlic is ready to be picked when the lower leaves start to turn brown while the higher leaves remain green, which usually happens in the middle to the end of summer.
Garlic bulbs should be hung in a dry, well-ventilated place, away from direct sunlight, for two to three weeks after harvesting to cure.
Bulbs should be stored in a cool, dry spot after curing; thereafter, remove any excess stalks and roots. Stored correctly, garlic has a long shelf life of many months.
A bumper crop of garlic from your garden is within your reach if you follow these instructions.