Garlic
Allium sativum. Garlic belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, alongside chives and onions. Garlic offers a distinct flavor profile sought after in culinary endeavors worldwide. Its versatility extends from enhancing savory dishes to medicinal applications. Garlic cultivars vary, with each variety classified as softneck or hardneck garlic. Garlic bulbs grow in clusters, enveloped by layers of papery skin, while its leaves sprout from the ground, resembling slender blades of grass.
Starting Seeds
Garlic is grown from individual cloves of the garlic, not seeds. Bulbs should be kept intact until ready to plant. Garlic requires soil temperatures below 40°F (4°C) for at least 40 days. This exposure to cold temperatures is referred to as vernalization, which enables garlic to form a bulb of multiple cloves as opposed to a single, large clove. If you live in a warm climate where this cannot be accomplished outdoors, you can place your garlic in the refrigerator for vernalization prior to planting.
When to Plant Out
In most climates, garlic cloves should be planted in the Fall after the first frost. Aim to plant garlic when soil temperatures will remain between 32 and 40°F (0 and 4°C) for 4-6 weeks after planting to allow roots to grow and the plants to become established before the ground freezes. Roots will grow whenever the ground is not frozen. Foliage will grow whenever the soil temperature is above 40°F (4°C). Planting too early will result in too much foliage before winter.
In warmer climates, plant in Winter or early Spring following the same soil temperature guidelines above and vernalizing garlic in the refrigerator, if required.
In very cold climates, mulch softneck garlic heavily to keep soil temperatures above 20°F (-7°C), or plant in early Spring as soon as the soil can be worked.
Light
Full sunlight: at least 6-8 hours a day.
Space
Plant cloves 6-8″ apart and 2-4″ deep in the soil.
Temperature
Hardneck garlic is hardy down to -30°F (-34°C). Softneck garlic is hardy down to soil temperatures of 20°F (-7°C).
Water
Garlic should be watered in well during planting after which watering should be unnecessary until the Spring when foliage begins to pop through the soil. Keep the soil consistently moist through Spring and Summer. Water at the base of the plants to keep the foliage dry and reduce the risk of diseases. Stop watering a couple of weeks before harvest.
Pruning
Garlic should not be pruned. Hardneck garlic produces scapes which can be cut off the plant and eaten prior to harvesting the garlic.
Harvesting
When the leaves begin to die off, it’s time to harvest. If left in the ground too long, the bulbs will split and storage life will be affected. Garlic should be harvested when the soil is dry. When harvesting, do not pull garlic out of the ground. Gently remove soil from around the bulb and lift out of the ground.
Garlic should be cured in a cool, dry place for 2-4 weeks immediately after harvesting. Hang garlic or lay flat on racks for air circulation with all roots and leaves intact. Roots and leaves can be trimmed after cured.
Propagation
Propagation of garlic is as easy as setting aside some bulbs from the harvest, after curing, and planting individual cloves again in the Fall.
Other Considerations
Hardneck varieties generally store for 3-4 months although some varieties will store for 9+ months. Softneck varieties generally store for 6-9 months with some varieties storing longer.