Tips for Growing Garlic in Your Vegetable Garden
Garlic can be purchased for spring and autumn sowing. To grow well it needs a period of cold weather, so fall planting is best. If you have heavy clay soil, however, it’s best to wait until spring. This type of soil tends to retain a lot of water, especially in winter, which can cause garlic cloves to rot.
To plant garlic, divide the bulbs into individual cloves and plant them with the pointed end facing up. Take care not to damage the pods when separating. Space them about 18cm apart and plant them at twice their own depth.
Alternatively, start garlic by planting cloves individually in pots in autumn. These can be planted in spring. If you’re short on space, try growing garlic in containers.
If you garden in clay soil or soil prone to being wet in winter, grow garlic on mounds 6 inches high and 8 inches wide at the base. Plant the pods 15-20 cm apart and 7-10 cm deep. Results are generally excellent, even in very humid weather.
HOW TO CARE FOR GARLIC PLANTS
Garlic needs little care. Weed between plants to reduce competition for water and space. Don’t panic if the plants produce flowers, as you should still get a harvest – it will just be reduced in size. You can also eat the flowers, which have a delicious flavor.
HOW TO HARVEST GARLIC
Harvest garlic in summer when the leaves turn yellow. Next, prepare the plants for harvest by scraping off some of the surrounding soil so that sunlight and air can reach the bulbs and help dry them. After preparation, gently lift the bulbs with a fork or trowel.
HOW TO STORE GARLIC
Hang garlic bulbs in mesh bags. Be careful not to crush the pods, as any damage may cause them to deteriorate in storage. Once dry, you can either store the bulbs in bulk or braid their foliage to make a traditional string of bulbs.
HOW TO PREPARE AND USE GARLIC
Crush, slice or finely chop, or roast whole pods, to add flavor to many dishes.
GARLIC: PROBLEM SOLVING
Garlic is generally free of pests. Garlic can be affected by leek rust, a fungal infection more common in humid weather. Garlic bulbs are perfectly safe to eat, but affected plants should be harvested immediately to prevent the spread of the disease.
CAN YOU PLAN GARLIC PURCHASED IN A SUPERMARKET?
It is possible to grow garlic from supermarket bulbs (it is best to buy organic), but this is not recommended as there is a risk of infection by viruses. If you purchase suitable planting material, it should be virus-free. And you can also choose a variety that was designed specifically for your climate.
