Growing garlic is possible in almost any climatic condition. It's a vegetable that takes a long time to grow, but you'll eventually be able to pick your own fresh garlic and store it for the winter or share it with friends. You can grow it in a pot or in the garden and it will be easy to harvest in mid-late summer. Keep reading!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Find the garlic to plant
You can try what you buy at the supermarket, but you will have a better chance of success if you buy the seeds or cloves in a nursery that knows the varieties best suited to the climate in which you live. You can also do a search online if you want particular types of garlic, some strains are more resistant to cold climates.
- Often the garlic you find in grocery stores comes from remote areas and may not be suitable for your climate or soil type.
- Additionally, commercial garlic is treated with chemical preservatives and is more difficult to grow.
Step 2. Prepare to plant in the fall or spring
If you live where winter is harsh, it is best to plant in the fall; garlic is in fact able to withstand the cold well and, if you plant it early, you allow the bulb to become bigger and tastier than planting it in spring. However, if you live in a warmer region, choose the latter option.
- In the fall, do it 6-8 weeks before the frosts.
- In spring, start as soon as you can work the soil, in February or March.
Step 3. Prepare the garden
Choose a spot in full sun and with well-draining soil. Work the soil to a depth of 10 cm with the help of a garden rake or hoe. Enrich the soil with compost and specific nutrients to get healthy and strong garlic.
If you wish, grow it in pots. Choose a large enough container and fill it with very rich soil
Step 4. Plant the garlic cloves
Divide the bulb into individual wedges trying to leave the dry skin intact. Bury them at 10cm intervals and 5cm deep. Make sure the root part is facing down and pointing up, otherwise the garlic will grow upside down. Cover the cloves with earth and compact it gently.
Part 2 of 3: Care
Step 1. Arrange a lot of mulch
If you have decided to plant the garlic in the fall, cover the area with 15 cm of mulch to protect it from the winter cold. Remember to take it off in the spring.
Step 2. Cut the flower buds in the spring
With the arrival of summer, the stems should sprout from the ground; it eliminates the flowers because they absorb the energies needed to form the bulbs.
Step 3. Water the plants
Wet your garlic every 3-5 days. When the soil appears dry and dusty, water is needed. During the winter and autumn the plant should not be watered.
Step 4. If necessary, add fertilizer and weed out
If the garlic stems appear yellowed or flabby midway through development, you can help the plants with some fertilizer to invigorate them. Keep the area free of weeds that compete with garlic for nutrients.
Part 3 of 3: Collection and Storage
Step 1. Collect the bulbs when the stems begin to yellow and die
At the end of the season (July / August) the plants begin to turn yellow; the time has come to harvest garlic.
- Don't wait too long or the bulbs will shrivel and won't be good to consume.
- If you harvest it too early, it will not store properly.
Step 2. Remove the bulbs from the earth without breaking them
Use a spade to loosen the soil and shake the bulbs to remove excess soil. You can leave the stems attached to the garlic.
Step 3. Let the bulbs dry for 2 weeks
Before consuming it, the garlic must "season". During this period the outer skin becomes dry and hard; keep the bulbs in a cool, dry place.
- You can remove the stem and dry the bulbs individually in a container. But make sure there is good ventilation.
- Another technique is to compose bunches of garlic (with the stems attached) and hang them in a cool, dry place.
Step 4. You can use garlic when the peel becomes dry and papery
The wedges should be firm to the touch and easy to divide.
Step 5. Save the best bulbs for the next season
Set the larger ones aside to plant them in the fall, before frosts, or in the spring. Choose the ones that look best to you to ensure a great harvest.
Advice
- In temperate climates, garlic can also be planted during the winter.
- If your soil is sufficiently acidic you won't need to use quicklime. Check that the pH value of the soil is between 5, 5 and 6, 7.
- If you are planting garlic in several rows, leave a gap of 30 cm between them.
- If you want more details on garlic care, read this article.
