Growing
Garlic at home, information on soil
requirments, when to sow, and storage.
One of my favorites is Garlic (Allium
sativum) a hardy perennial member
of the onion family garlic. If you
love garlic you’ll love growing
it at home. Not only can you harvest
it fresh from your garden, you can
try out lots of different varieties
that aren't available to you in the
grocery store. There are hundreds
of varieties, each varying in color,
spiciness and usefulness in methods
of cooking.
Soil
Requirements
The best time to grow garlic is in
the fall and garlic grows best on
friable (crumbly) loamy soils that
are fertile and high in organic matter.
The soil must be kept evenly moist
as dry soil will cause irregularly
shaped bulbs. Heavy clay soils will
also create misshaped bulbs and make
harvesting difficult. Add organic
matter, such as well-rotted manure
or compost to the soil on a yearly
basis to keep it friable.
Bulbs
For best results buy a head of garlic
bought from a reputable grower, or
from a garden centre or gardening
catalogue. Garlic bought in a supermarket
can be inferior.
Planting
-
Separate the bulbs into cloves
the same day you're going
to plant them. Waiting longer
than a day will cause the
cloves to dry out.
-
Place the cloves three to
five inches apart in an upright
position. Allow 18 to 30 inches
between the rows. Cover the
top of the clove to a depth
of 1/2 to 1 inch. Garlic grows
best in beds. As hot weather
approaches, garlic plants
may begin to flower. Remove
flowers as they appear. When
the tops begin to dry, usually
in July or August, watering
should be reduced.
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Harvest
and Storage
Harvest garlic when tops start to
dry, you’ll know when the garlic
is ready to lift because the tops
turn yellow. Dig the bulbs rather
than pulling them. Clean the bulbs
and allow them to dry. Bulbs are best
stored at cool temperatures (40-50F)
in a dry place; otherwise if to cool
they will sprout and to moist will
grow roots. Cloves should keep for
six to seven months.
Remember to keep some of the fattest
cloves to plant next year - you need
never buy supermarket garlic again.
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Gardening Tips
More
Growing Garlic Tips coming soon... |
