It’s almost garlic planting time, Orbiters! This delightfully pungent allium is one of the easiest crops to grow. Learn how to plant it this fall with our step-by-step instructions. LET’S DO THIS!
GETTING STARTED
• Look for large “seed garlic” from farmers markets or seed catalogs in the fall. In a pinch, you can use the largest organic garlic you can find. For the best storage, look for “hardneck” varieties.
• Plant garlic any time between October 15 and November 15 (we always aim for Halloween).
• Choose a sunny bed for planting. Some shade is OK, but make sure it’ll have sun for at least 6 to 8 hours a day. Before planting, turn over and loosen soil with a garden fork. Amend with some compost if needed.
PLANT IN 3 EASY STEPS!
1. Peel away the loose skins from the bulbs, and separate the cloves.
2. Dig 2 to 3-inch deep trenches about 8 inches apart. Plant cloves 4 to 6 inches apart in the trenches.
3. Cover with soil, then mulch with a few layers of straw and/or leaves. If you have squirrels in your area (we do!) cover with chicken wire to prevent them from digging in the bed. (Remove chicken wire and about half of the mulch in the early spring.)
WHAT’S NEXT?
• In the early spring—when you start to see daffodils starting to come up—remove some of the mulch from the garlic bed.
• Harvest the scapes in June and and pull the bulbs in early July (Fourth of July is our rule of thumb).
• Let garlic plants dry in a shady, well-ventilated space for 2 weeks, then trim and store in a cool, dark place for up to 10 months.