how to grow garlic

If you find yourself needing some quiet time and want to be left alone for a while, eat some garlic! Garlic's strong aroma will not only deter people from getting too close, but nagging, flying insects will think twice about approaching you.

Garlic has numerous health benefits. Along with being a wonderful source of Vitamin C, iron and calcium, it has a significant amount of Vitamins A and B.

Things You Need to Know:

• Garlic can be grown in the spring for a fall harvest or in the fall for a spring harvest depending upon your region.
• Each garlic clove (also called seeds) will produce one garlic bulb.
• Garlic does not do well in areas where there is a lot of rain. Consider potting your garlic to control drainage.
• Clay soils are not the best for growing garlic, so consider building up your soil with compost before planting.
• The ground you choose should be well manured, forked or tilled to at least a foot deep. Garlic does not like being pushed up out of the soil as it grows.
• Garlic should be planted in a sunny area of your garden.
• Choose garlic to grow that comes from a neighbor, local farmers market, or organic grower if possible.
• Do not plant cloves that are getting soft and have lost their firmness.

1. Separate the cloves from the garlic bulb.
2. Point the tip or sprouting end upwards.
3. Push down to a depth of 2 inches and space 6 inches to 1 foot apart.
4. Cover the cloves with a good amount of mulch using hay, straw, rotted grass clippings or leaves.
5. Keep the soil moist to help the roots to set. Garlic does not like too much water. After the garlic comes up, water once per week if no rain.

• Garlic is usually ready to harvest in the late summer when the leaves have died back.
• Hang garlic up to dry or leave in a well-ventilated place.
• Garlic scapes (leaves) can be braided or twisted together and hung up to dry. When completely dried, pull off bulbs as needed.
• Well-dried garlic should keep until the following spring if kept in a dry arid environment. 
• Garlic that begins to sprout can be planted in the spring.