Garlic: Your Bullet-Points Guide!
As we dive into the world of growing our own garlic, let’s keep things efficient and practical by using bullet points today.
Balancing the hustle of working at client’s backyards and daily life, I’m sharing this guide with a touch of honesty, fueled by a bit of chocolate indulgence. (ok, it was more than just a bit of chocolate).
So, let's get straight to the point, and enjoy a quick and informative read!
First, you definitely want to plant garlic! It’s easy, delicious, and… did I mention easy? You just need garlic cloves, soil, and the ability to forget about it. (Please read that last part in your best Italian accent).
Choose a variety that fits you (and your cooking!). Hardneck garlic carries a more robust flavor and will tolerate colder climates, yet it comes with the trade-off of a shorter shelf life compared to other varieties. Softneck garlic offers a milder flavor, and you can create neat braids with the garlic—it's pretty cool. Elephant garlic is great especially if you are feeding a huge family like mine and you’re tired of peeling so many garlic cloves. Bam. Done. I got my planting garlic at the farmer’s market this year, so I know it will perform well in my area.
Feed your soil before you plant your garlic. Mix some compost with a bit of manure and you’ll be good to go. I’ll also add a leaf mulch on top of my garlic before the onset of very cold weather.
Dig a hole, about 3 inches deep. Place the garlic with the pointed tip facing upward, ensuring it is oriented correctly.
Water and congratulate yourself—you're now a winter gardener, and that means taking a break. Remember when I said, 'Forget about it'? This is that step. Come spring, watch for the “scape” and snap it off. (It’s the flower bloom that sprouts from the garlic) This encourages the plant to divert energy towards growing more bulbs.
Harvest the garlic when more than half of the plant’s leaves have turned brown. Typically for our region, this will be at the beginning of July. Use either a pitchfork or a trowel to carefully unearth the garlic bulbs from the soil.
Cure the garlic. Allow the garlic to naturally dry in a shaded and well-ventilated area for a couple of weeks.
So that’s that. Enjoy growing garlic! Thanks for reading!