Garlic is a crop planted in the fall and harvested in the mid-summer. This pungently potent vegetable is extremely easy to grow at home. Not only is it easy to grow and a delight to devour, but it also offers some healthy perks. As garlic plant is a natural pest deterrent, it is a powerful companion to a variety of plants, herbs, flowers, and fruit trees. The best thing is, even those with a small garden can plant enough garlic for a good part of the year. You just need to plant the right variety of garlic at the right time in the right soil.
Here are some steps on how to grow garlic in your home garden:-
Choose The Type Of Garlic To Plant
You’ll find dozens of types of garlic; however, for general purposes, one crucial thing is to know the difference between hard-neck and soft-neck. Hard neck garlic varieties have a stiff stem that grows through the center of the bulb. As they are hardier, they are a good choice for regions with chilly cold winters. On the other hand, soft neck garlic varieties don’t have a stiff stem. It has a mild flavor and is the best choice for regions with the moderate winter season.
So, it’s best to choose the type of garlic based on your taste and climate. You can get some seed stock from the local farmer’s market.
Plant The Garlic
Here is all you need to know about planting garlic-
When To Grow Garlic
Well, if you are wondering when to plant garlic, fall is the best season. Typically, garlic is planted in the early winter or fall. However, it may not be planted in the early springs or warmer climates.
Prepare The Planting Site
Select a sunny spot or area. Fertile, well-drained soil of pH 6.5 or 7 is ideal for growing garlic plant. If the soil is thin, sandy, add compost, manure or fertilizers. It’s better to use organic lawn fertilizers that serve as a natural source of nutrients for the soil.
You can look for a professional organic fertilizer service to help the soil restore its fertility. Don’t use unprocessed or fresh animal manure, as it may transfer diseases.
How To Plant Garlic
Planting garlic bulbs in the loose, weed-free fertile soil is the best bet. Insert the cloves root-side down, around 8 inches apart in all the directions, while burying the tips 2 inches down. Before planting garlic, break up the head of garlic into individual cloves. Make sure to leave the papery covering on each of the garlic cloves as intact as possible. Water the plant gently so that the soil gets settled. After that, cover the bed with at least 4 to 6 inches layer of straw.
A Pro Tip: Don’t use the garlic cloves from grocery stores for planting. It may be an unsuitable variety for your area. And, most of these varieties are treated to increase the shelf life, making them even harder to grow.
Select large, healthy cloves of the garlic plant. Larger the clove you choose, healthier and bigger the bulb you’ll harvest in the following summer. This is all about how does garlic grow in your garden.
Harvest And Store Garlic
Many of the people are often stuck with a common question; when to harvest garlic. Well, it is best to harvest when the top begins to yellow or fall over, however before they are completely dry. Before you dig up the whole crop, it’s better to check a sample. Lift a clove to see if it is ready or not. Lift the plant carefully, brush off the soil, and leave them for some time in shady, dry, airy spot for at least two weeks. Be cautious not to bruise garlic; else, you won’t be able to store it well.