Planting Garlic Bulbs
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Garlic bulbs will be arriving in a few weeks (varieties are listed at the end of the article). September – October is a good time to plant garlic bulbs for harvest next season. If you’ve never grown your own garlic before, you will find that it is an easy process. Garlic is a pest-free crop, so you do not have to worry about critters or bugs.
Culinary garlic (Allium sativum), is divided into two types – softneck and hardneck. Hardneck garlic has a rigid central stem and fewer, but larger, cloves. It has a shorter storage life but boasts more flavor. Softneck garlic is the opposite, with softer stems, more cloves, and longer storage life.
Select a sunny area for planting. Loose, well-drained soil is best (soggy, wet soil will rot the bulbs). Add lime to the soil if you haven’t done so recently. Before planting, incorporate1-2 tablespoons of 5-10-10 fertilizer, bone meal or aged manure several inches below where the garlic base will rest.
Break the bulbs into individual bulblets. Select only the largest for planting.
Plant the bulbs, pointy side up, 2-3 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart. Ideally, the tops of the bulbs should be covered with one inch of soil. If you are planting in rows, place the rows about 12-18 inches apart.
After planting, cover the area with mulch and water well. Garlic is tough and can withstand the winter temperatures and even snow and ice.
Although you may get leaf growth during the winter months, most will occur next spring as temperatures begin to warm up. Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer around the foliage in late winter to early spring. Apply fresh mulch and keep the area clear of weeds. In late June, the bulbs will begin to ripen. At this time, stop watering. In mid July – August, the stalks will begin to die. The garlic will be ready to harvest when at least half of the green tops have died. Cure bulbs for up to two weeks in a warm, well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight.
Hardneck varieties:
Spanish Roja
German Red
OG Musik
German Porcelain
Russian Red
Chesnok Red
Softneck varieties:
OG Nootka Rose
OG Inchelium Red
