How to Grow Garlic
By: Zachary Diehl
Preparing the Soil
When you are growing garlic the first thing that you need to consider is the type of soil that you have. For example if you live in a new development you may have some really bad soil due to the fact that all of the rich soil on top (commonly named "top soil,") has been scraped off and sold. If this is the case, you will have to amend your soil with either top soil, compost, and manure. The optimal type of soil for garlic is soil rich with organic material, you also want your soil to be loose; so you may want to add sand to loosen it up. The ph of the soil is also important, garlic likes a soil ph of 6.5-7.0. This can easily be tested with kits that can be bought at any nursery. I like to amend my garlic soil with used coffee grounds that can be gotten for free at Star Bucks© or check any local coffee shop.
When to sow
Warm temperatures, generally, plant it in autumn through early winter
When I sow my garlic I like to sow it right after I have pulled up the existing bulbs, this way the soil is already tilled and makes your job much easier. If this is your first time planting garlic you will want to plant it in mid August, some were in the first two weeks is the best time, but really any time from then on until the soil is workable will do fine. As a general rule you can plant garlic about six weeks before the soil freezes. Since garlic is so hardy and virtually indestructible in a good way it is great for the first timer.
How to Sow
Depending on whether you are planting the cloves or the bulbils will determine how they are planted, Since both have different needs.
Cloves
If you are planting cloves, which is the recommended way because of how simple it is, all you will need to do is dig a hole about 1-2 inches deep depending on the type of garlic that you have and wide enough to keep your clove snug. You should only plant one clove per hole, so that the clove can grow large, be sure to use the biggest cloves that you have. You also want to keep a spacing of 4-6 inches between each newly planted clove. When planting cloves you will end up with a much bigger bulb that if you plant bulbils, and be sure to always clean the cloves before you plant them, this will ensure that your garlic does not catch diseases as easily.
Bulbils
When planting bulbils they tend to take longer, but if you don't want to spare any of the fresh garlic that you have already grown and are feeling a bit selfish, there is no reason better to plant bulbils. That is because you get so many more plants from the bulbils that you would from the cloves the first thing you want to do is wait till the flowering stalk that the bulbils are on is fully dead and dry or when you start seeing them fall off the flowering head. Collect them all and separate the large ones from the smalls ones, the large ones will give you a better crop than the small ones will. You will want to plant them a maximum of two inches, no more. I like to mulch mine after sowing and mark then rows, this way I know were they will be in the spring when they come out. When planting the bulbils it will take two-three years before you get the big bulbs that you are used to in the store, but it is well worth the wait.
Both ways are good ways and both have there benefits, if you are not sure which to do, why not do both and see what works best for you.
Growing Garlic
When growing garlic there are some simple tip to follow, don't keep your soil too wet and don't keep it too dry, if you do too much of one you will end up with either mushy cloves or cloves that are very small. So be sure that you keep the soil moist and even for at least the first two months of growing, that way the garlic bulb can store as much nutrients as is possible. One tip to remember, garlic loves nitrogen! So be sure in the spring or fall or whenever you sow you garlic be sure to boost the amount of nutrients will a good all around fertilizer or maybe one with a higher nitrogen content. This will insure a larger tastier garlic bulb.
Harvesting Harvesting garlic is not really all that hard, it just depends on what type garlic you are growing and your personal preference. I have always harvested my garlic when it looks like it has died completely, you just don' t want to wait to long or the cloves may fall off the central bulb. I also like to stop watering a couple of weeks before I harvest them. This way the ground is somewhat dry and the dirt will not stick to them as much. If the garlic bulbs are a little wet you will want to set them out to dry or else they will mold and not be very useful to you!
When you are drying you garlic, you will want to put them into a warm shaded spot. You can put them in the direct sunlight, but the chance is greater of burning the garlic. I have unheated garage, and I like to put my garlic in there, that way it is protected from the sun but it still gets the heat that is needed to dry it.
If you have any questions you can leave a comment on my blog ... www.vioboy.blogspot.com