Already had the first frost in your area? Try planting garlic in the spring instead! Just keep the bulbs in your fridge for at least 8 weeks and plant them when you can easily work the soil.
To check your soil drainage, dig a 12 in (30 cm) hole in the ground and filling it with water. Once the water drains, fill it again and measure the depth. After 15 minutes, measure the change in water level and multiply it by 4. If the drainage is 1–3 inches (2. 5–7. 6 cm), then your soil is perfect for garlic. [3] X Research source Alternatively, grow your garlic in a pot indoors. Just use a container that’s at least 8 in (20 cm) deep filled with a standard potting mix.
Common hardneck varieties include Music (pungent but not too hot), Early Italian (mild and excellent roasted), or German Red (hot and on the spicier side). Try softneck varieties like California Early White (mild and versatile), Silver White (moderate flavor and keeps well in storage), or Lorz Italian (strong, zesty flavors). Choose large, clean garlic bulbs since they’ll have the best chances of growing. Avoid planting garlic that you bought from the grocery store since it usually isn’t suited to grow in your area. You can buy seed garlic online or ask local farmers or growers if they have any cloves available.
It’s okay to leave the mulch between the spots where you planted garlic to help prevent weeds and retain moisture. Keep track of where your garlic is by putting garden stakes in the ground at each planting site. Avoid using hay to cover your garlic since it could contain weed seeds.
If it rained during the week, you may not need to do any extra watering for your garlic. Use a rain gauge to measure how much water your plants have gotten so you don’t accidentally overwater them.
Check the soil nutrients before adding any fertilizers. If the nitrogen levels are already around 440 ppm, then you don’t need to add fertilizer. [11] X Research source
Try applying a 2 in (5. 1 cm) layer of mulch around your garlic, but don’t let it touch the stems since it could lead to rot.
Chop the scape and use it in your cooking for more aromatic notes. Try tossing them in a stir fry or sauce for an added boost of flavor.
Harvesting your garlic early will end up giving you smaller and less flavorful cloves. Avoid watering your garlic after it starts to turn yellow since the bulbs could rot or split.
Yanking the garlic out of the ground could damage the cloves before you have a chance to use them.
If you want to braid your garlic for a decorative way to store the bulbs, leave the stems long.
If your garlic starts to sprout when it’s in storage, throw it away since it won’t be as flavorful. Watch for signs your garlic has gone bad, like if it has mushy brown spots or a sour odor. Avoid keeping your garlic in the fridge since the moisture and colder temperatures might make the cloves sprout. [19] X Research source Try making garlic oil with your fresh cloves to easily add flavors to your dishes.
