When and How to Plant Garlic

When and how to plant Garlic Overview

Garlic would be a great addition to your kitchen garden as they are quite easy to plant and tend. A single bulb or two would do because each clove eventually springs into a bulb of its own.

The secret is choosing the right kind of garlic to plant. Yes, you read that right. Like other plants, there are different kinds of garlic.

Don’t worry, though; the planting process is similar for all of them, only that you may need to determine which one is right for your taste buds.

These garlic varieties are;

Softneck garlic- these are mostly the ones you will get from a supermarket. They have a mild flavor and produce a stiff central stem.

This variety is ideal for slightly cold areas that experience mild winters and perfect if you enjoy making garlic braids.

Hardneck garlic- This variety produces a relatively stiff stem through the center of the bulb and has a sharper flavor.

They are reasonably hardy and can withstand cold winters.

On the downside, their bulbs have a shorter shelf life compared to their soft counterparts.

Elephant garlic-These are easy to spot since they are pretty large, perhaps because they are not “true” garlic but are closely related to leeks.
When is the right time to plant garlic?

For most regions, garlic is planted during fall- mainly four weeks before the dawn of winter.

Fall is the best time; the humidity is perfect for root growth.

Essentially, root growth begins a week or two after planting and proceeds for a few more weeks before the soil freezes.

GrowingGrowing too early into fall could induce leaf sprouting, easily getting injured by severe cold snaps. Garlic can also be planted in early spring in some regions, right about the same time as onions.

What’s required for garlic planting?

Planting garlic is a no-brainer as it only requires healthy medium to medium-large garlic heads and loose, fertile soil.

You may also need a digging fork to loosen the soil and evenly spread a 2-3 inch deep layer of organic matter.

A well-aged mixture of compost, leaf mold, and aged manure will do the trick if you can get some.

Alternatively, if you are planting your garlic in containers or pots, ensure that the soil drains well or use a soil-less potting mix as you can be sure it will stay light.

The pot should also drain well to avoid any chance of sogginess, especially during winter. Remember that you can grow garlic from garlic heads or a few cloves.

How to Plant GarlicGrowing

Once you have all you need, planting your garlic should be a walk in the park. The steps are very straightforward.

If you are planting garlic in the ground;

1. Prepare the soil

The first thing is to loosen the soil using a digging fork and generously spread a 2-3 inch deep layer of organic matter(aged composed, leaf mold, or aged manure) over the area.

This should be followed by digging several shallow furrows in the soil about 6 inches apart.

   2. Break the cloves from the bulb

Do this a couple of days before planting day while keeping the translucent husk on each clove.

   3. Plant the cloves

Hold each clove by the pointed end and push it 2 inches into the soil.

The next clove should be placed 4 inches apart in the furrow to ensure enough room for each. The rows should be spaced 10 to 14 inches apart.

    4. Smooth the surface 

You can use your fingers or the digging rake to fill up the holes. However, do it gently and ensure that the final surface is uniform.

     5. Water and fertilize 

As you water the area, do it gently, preferably with sprinklers, to supply it adequately and equally. Too much water may make the cloves rot instead.

Adding fertilization at this stage is optional. However, it would be wise to give it time and wait a bit longer.

It is better to fertilize once the garlic has robust growth. If you are planting in a container, the steps are pretty much the same.

Just remember to avoid crowding the cloves in a single pot or container.

Keep in mind

Garlic can take up to 7 months to fully mature. Knowing when to harvest might be tricky.

To determine the correct time, keep an eye on the leaves for yellowing foliage and browning tops.

You can sample one of the crops by digging the sides carefully with a digging fork- just to make sure.

Garlic will require very little intervention as it grows. All you have to do is check up on your plants once in a while to take out any weeds or water them every 3 to 4 days. It is that simple!