Garlic

[Sammster]

I've never grown garlic, before - but would love to. Just got an email, for reserve orders for garlic for the 23/24 season. So - you plant in the fall and harvest the following year?

They show many varieties. I'd like to go with the easiest, since I'm new. What would you garlic experts advise?

 

[Sally PB]

Yes, garlic is planted in the fall, harvested the next summer (here in Michigan). If you can't order any -- it's often sold out early -- go to a farmer's market and buy some of their garlic.

I bought some Music (variety) garlic 4? 5? years ago, and haven't need to buy any since. I planted it on November first, and it did very well. I aim for the last week of October.

Look for a hardneck variety. They do better in our climate. They also give a second harvest: The flower stalk, called a "scape," is also edible. You pick those in June, and they're like a green bean sized asparagus spear that tastes like mild garlic.

It's easy to grow!

 

[DLA]

I've never grown garlic, before - but would love to. Just got an email, for reserve orders for garlic for the 23/24 season. So - you plant in the fall and harvest the following year?

They show many varieties. I'd like to go with the easiest, since I'm new. What would you garlic experts advise?

Yes, garlic is planted in the fall, harvested the next summer (here in Michigan). If you can't order any -- it's often sold out early -- go to a farmer's market and buy some of their garlic.

I bought some Music (variety) garlic 4? 5? years ago, and haven't need to buy any since. I planted it on November first, and it did very well. I aim for the last week of October.

Look for a hardneck variety. They do better in our climate. They also give a second harvest: The flower stalk, called a "scape," is also edible. You pick those in June, and they're like a green bean sized asparagus spear that tastes like mild garlic.

It's easy to grow!

I just harvested mine. Just like you said @Sally PB buy some from the market and plant it. I don't know what kind I got exactly but it is a hardneck type and was super easy to grow.

 

[Sally PB]

Garlic, like onions, is actually specialized leaves. The leaves above ground are what feed the bulb leaves below. So it benefits from a nitrogen boost a couple times during the season, unlike a true root crop, like carrots. Once I learned that, I got better (bigger) garlic and onions.

@Sammster, check out farmer's markets for garlic. Buy the biggest bulbs/cloves you can find. I've read, "eat the little cloves, plant the big ones." I've been doing that for a few years. This year, I have the biggest bulbs I've ever had.

Next to my dainty mens size 9 shoe for scale:

 

[Sammster]

Garlic, like onions, is actually specialized leaves. The leaves above ground are what feed the bulb leaves below. So it benefits from a nitrogen boost a couple times during the season, unlike a true root crop, like carrots. Once I learned that, I got better (bigger) garlic and onions.

@Sammster, check out farmer's markets for garlic. Buy the biggest bulbs/cloves you can find. I've read, "eat the little cloves, plant the big ones." I've been doing that for a few years. This year, I have the biggest bulbs I've ever had.

Next to my dainty mens size 9 shoe for scale:
View attachment 3596550

TYSM! Will do.

 

[Sally PB]

Plant garlic cloves so that the tip of the bulb is pointing up, and 3-ish(?) inches below the top of the soil. Like everything else, they like loose, rich, well drained soil. I have two gardens: one is heavy soil, the other sandy soil, and the garlic goes in the sandy soil. (I plant onions in both places.) I put 3-4" of dried leaves over them, as mulch.

When they poke up through in the spring, carefully pull the mulch away, so as not to break the tips off.

We had a late freeze on May 26th this year. It turned the tips of the leaves brown, but didn't seem to be a problem.