Garlic Basics

Here are some answers you’ll need to know to grow this atypical yet rewarding crop

enquire a nurseryman what signals the arrival of outflow and you ’ll likely hear one of these common answers : “ the daffodils read up , ” “ the robins returning , ” and “ the Lord’s Day intensifying . ” My response ? “ Garlic . ” Nothing throw me happy than front out onto my free vegetable garden and assure those small green sprout nose through the dirt . Garlic shows up to the vernal solemnisation before nearly anything else , even snowdrops . Despite this , I ’ve had to explain more than a few times my reasoning behind raise ail . After all , it takes longanimity to grow this crop because you have to wait seven months ( or more ) after planting to harvest .

But garlic is worth the wait — and not just because it provides a cure for the wintertime blues . It ’s well-heeled to rise , and it does n’t have many blighter or disease issue ( even cervid avoid it ) . And for each modest Eugenia caryophyllatum you put in the ground , you get an entire bulb as a return on your investment . With food market stock sometimes bill up to $ 1 apiece for garlic medulla oblongata , it is truly a craw that is less expensive to grow than to bribe . In spite of all these amazing attributes , people still have trouble with this craw . The following are some common doubt and straightforward answers to planting , caring for , and harvest garlic .

1. Is it better to plant a hardneck or a softneck type?

The selection of whether to found a hardneck or a softneck garlic bet on where you live . If you ’re in an area where the winters are modest and that seldom gets stretches of Arctic temperatures , softneck varieties are your serious bet . This type has a mild flavor and can be store for a long period of time ; it is what is usually sell in grocery storage . Hardneck varieties are for locating that have harsh winter that seem to last forever . This case is stalwart and wo n’t heave itself out of the primer when the soil freezes . Hardnecks got their name from the rigid stem that runs down the center of the electric-light bulb — an appendage that is missing in softnecks . Hardnecks are generally planted in late fall before the reason freezes , while softnecks can be planted into early wintertime as long as the background remains executable .

2. What is seed garlic, and why is it so expensive?

Much like a white potato , come ail is plainly a large bulb of garlic that is generally reserved for replant due to its rich size . Although this lightbulb might seem dear , you cease up break it aside into individual Syzygium aromaticum for planting . This mean that each bulb purchased as seed can end up yield eight or nine bulbs in your garden , making it fairly inexpensive in the prospicient run . And you’re able to reserve your largest bulb each class and replant them for subsequent harvests , so you might never have to buy ail again after your initial investiture .

3. I don’t have a lot of space, so can I still grow garlic?

Relatively speak , garlic can be spaced closer together than many other vegetables ; 4 to 6 inches apart is ideal . Although you’re able to imbed each clove even closer together , each mature bulb might finish up being smaller . I like to throng in as much garlic as potential , so I visualise how big a fledged bulb of garlic will be and ensure that I leave a au naturel minimum of that amount of space between the clove .

4. Do I need to mulch?

plainly put : Yes , you need to mulch . No matter where you are establish ( whether in a mild or a harsh mood ) , put down a mantle of wintertime detachment is a good idea . Straw mulch tend to be the good because it helps regulate the soil temperature throughout wintertime ( preventing early germination or rime heave ) but is n’t arduous enough to curb burgeon forth in spring . Mulch also help keep weeds in check and soil wet consistent .

5. It’s the middle of winter and my garlic is sprouting—what should I do?

Despite your good mulching campaign ( or if you block to mulch ) , when the weather warms up in midwinter , you might see untimely green shoots . If this materialise , do n’t panic . Simply circulate another bed of straw over the top of the shoots , and they should pull through without any wrong being done to the incandescent lamp shape belowground .

6. Should I snap off the scapes only if I intend to eat them?

You should shoot off the scapes no matter what . Many gardeners in midspring harvest the long scroll stem that develops on plant ( only in hardneck types ) because they like to use it in cooking . But there is a biological welfare , as well . By removing the scape , the plant will not be draw to airt energy into the theme and will , rather , practice that free energy to form bigger and more robust lightbulb .

7. Is it really necessary to cure my garlic?

Yes , you need to bring around your garlic ; otherwise , it will rot before you have a fortune to relish the yield of your labor . cure dries out the light bulb so that they store well . After about 40 pct of the foliage has yellowed , pull the bulbs — works and all — out of the earth , and lie or hang up the garlic in a nerveless , dry place for a duo of weeks . Do not wash them off . When the outside of the bulbs are teetotal and papery , you’re able to sweep off any stay dirt and veer off the top , leaving behind a half inch of bow . If cured correctly , hardnecks will more often than not keep in storage for four to six calendar month ; softnecks can be stack away for six to 12 months .

Be sure to remove the germ

Once you ’ve reap your garlic and it has properly cured , you may expend it for months . Before jactitate the cloves into your savory dishes , however , you might want to do a slight trim . The greenish sprout in the center of a garlic clove is called the “ germ . ” When ail is young , the germ is pale , humble , and offer . As the garlic age , the germ turns green , grows large , and develop an unpleasantly bitter quality , so you ’ll require to remove it . If you are using garlic in a soup or a lather or if you are roasting it , you could leave the germ intact . Cooking garlic for a longsighted time tames its bitter . Here ’s how to remove the seed :

1.Cut the clove in half

2.Use a paring knife (or your fingernail) to pry the germ out

Danielle Sherry is a senior editor in chief who does n’t spring up nearly enough garlic each year in her garden in East Haddam , Connecticut .

Photos , except where noted : Danielle Sherry

The following postal service - order plant vender provide the largest selection of seed garlic :

Get our latest tips , how - to articles , and instructional video sent to your inbox .

sign you up …

Growing Garlic in the Rocky Mountains

Grow Your Own Garlic

How to Care for Garlic

Garlic Bulb Types

bring together okay Gardening for a innocent engaging live webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a famed industrial plant pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical manager …

When I spotted a special grit dollar bill cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I know I was in worry . With a delicious colour pattern …

When we only prioritise plants we want over plant life our landscape painting needs , each season is fill with a never - stop list of chore : pruning , twitch , watering , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re potential to touch off on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a duet …

4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder’s Garden

Episode 181: Plants You Can’t Kill

Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage

4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard

All Access member get more

Sign up for afree trialand get admission to ALL our regional depicted object , plus the eternal sleep of the member - only contentedness subroutine library .

Start Free Trial

Get complete land site access to expert advice , regional content , and more , plus the print magazine .

set about your FREE trial

Already a member?sign in