O garlic it is a basic ingredient and enlivens many meals, from the classic rice and beans to the most elaborate supper dishes. And the good news is that it’s super easy to plant! As long as it’s planted in a sunny location with well-fertilized, well-draining soil, it can thrive even in a pot on the porch.
You can plant garlic in autumn and spring. But before you start, it’s worth remembering that planting the bulbs in the spring gives them less time in the ground to grow. So if you can start your fall harvests you have a much better chance of growing decent sized bulbs to be proud of.
Here’s everything you need to learn to grow garlic, including tips on when to harvest it and how to store it:
How to grow garlic in 4 simple steps
1. Dig the soil and apply potash or general purpose fertilizer.
2. Separate the garlic cloves, being careful not to damage the garlic core.
3. Plant them with the pointed side up. You can plant them directly in the ground at least 6 inches apart, with rows about 12 inches apart.
4. Water them occasionally during dry weather. But, a month before harvesting, do not water them, as this will help the cloves to mature. Most of the garlic will be ready by summer.
See too
types of garlic
- hard neck garlic (Allium sativum ophioscorodon): Stem hard, with bigger teeth
- soft neck garlic (Allium sativum sativum): It has the softest stem, ripens faster and has the smallest teeth.
How to harvest garlic
You’ll know your garlic is ready to harvest when the leaves start to turn yellow and wilt. Harvest the bulbs by carefully lifting them with a garden fork, with the foliage intact, and place them to dry in the sun, without stacking.
The process should take between 3 to 5 days in the sun, and 20 to 50 days in the shade. You can braid the stalks, so you combine the useful with the pleasant, having a decorative touch with your seasoning!
What to plant with garlic?
Belonging to the same family as onions, chives and leeks, garlic requires the same growing conditions, so these plants are good for sharing planting with it.
*Via gardeningetc