How to Grow Garlic

The first thing to know is there are three kinds of garlic to grow in the garden: First is the soft neck variety. It has more than one ring of cloves around the central stem. It is the type often seen in supermarkets and is not as cold hardy as the other varieties. Second is the hard or stiff-neck variety that has a single ring of cloves around the central stem and is usually the best type for the home garden. Third is the elephant garlic which is not a garlic at all but a type of leek. The bulbs are large and not as hardy as the stiff neck garlic and the flavor is mild.

Order garlic bulbs from an online dealer or buy from a local garden center. If the ground freezes during the winter where you are located, plant in fall. Otherwise, plant in fall, winter, or spring.

If you have bulbs, which are a group of cloves, split the cloves apart by hand and plant two inches deep and three inches apart in full sun and average garden soil with the pointed end up. Cover with a two inch layer of mulch. Be careful not to over water or the bulbs may rot.

If you live in an area with warmer winters, you will see green sprouts in a few weeks. Otherwise, the sprouts appear in the spring. Allow them to grow until you see the flower stalks begin to form. Cut off the flower stalks for bigger bulbs. Some types do not have flowers so don't worry if no flowers appear.

Dig or harvest in late spring or early summer when the tips of the leaves begin to turn brown and the tops fall over. If you wait until the entire plant is brown, then you've waited too long and bulb quality has suffered. After digging, spread the bulbs with the foliage attached on a screen in a bright well ventilated area to dry. When the necks are tight and the skins are translucent, then they are ready to store. Save some bulbs to plant the next season.

Good companions are lettuce and beets, Bad companions are beans and peas. Don't plant where onions were planted the previous season. For organic pest control, plant garlic in various places around the garden to help ward off pests.