How and When to Plant Garlic
It is the perfect time of year to plant garlic. Garlic happens to be one of the most used vegetables in the world. That’s right, Garlic is a vegetable. Many people believe it to be an herb but it is considered a root vegetable since it grows below ground. It is used in a multitude of countries for cooking, used as a key ingredient in many homemade insect sprays, has medicinal qualities, and also looks amazing in the garden. Let’s dig deep to explain the perfect time you should plant garlic along with the best ways to plant to garlic.
Which type of Garlic do I plant- Hardneck or Softneck?
Wait- there are different types of garlic?
Yes, there are either hardneck or softneck types of garlic. The differences are pretty easy to understand. Hardneck garlics grow best where the winter is colder. Hardneck garlics are also called top-setting garlic. These types of garlics have plentiful and abundant flavors. These varieties of garlic produce about a dozen or so cloves that grow around the main stalk. Most hardneck garlics do not store as well as softnecks. You will need to use the hardneck garlics within 6-10 months. There are a few varieties of hardnecks that will only store for 3-4 months.
Softneck garlics, sometimes called artichoke garlic, are great producers of garlic cloves. Most softnecks will produce at least 40 garlic cloves per bulb. Softneck garlic is best for warmer areas with milder winters. These types of garlics have a milder and more traditional flavor than hardnecks. Softneck garlics can be stored for many months and well into the next growing seasons. In addition, you can store softneck garlics by tying them into a long braid. These garlic braids make great gifts.
I do want to mention Elephant Garlic. This one is special because it is actually a leek and not a true garlic. It does produce large garlic like cloves and is delicious just like garlic. The flavor of elephant garlic is mild and it stores very well. Elephant garlic is considered hardneck. We use it in my house as a garlic and don’t think of it any other way.
If you are in Texas here is a list of Garlic Varieties that can be planted. Look under Fall Root Vegetables for Texas.
When Do I Plant Garlic?
Garlic is a cool season root vegetable. There is only one time of year that you can plant garlic- in the fall. The exact time depends on where you live. For people that live in the upper portion of the U.S. you can plant garlic starting around early September. I have heard that it is best to plant garlic when the kids go back to school. However, that won’t work for everyone. For people that live more in the lower portion of the U.S. garlic can be planted from mid-to late September.
Here in the Houston area in Texas you can plant garlic starting mid- September well into late November. In Houston, garlic has an extremely long planting season. This gives you plenty of time to order your garlic cloves and plant them. In addition, if the weather is too warm garlic will not have enough time to store up enough energy for the next season’s bulb’s (cloves). This is why it is essential for garlic to be planted in cool seasons with enough time for the plant to provide energy for the bulbs to form.
Where Do I Plant Garlic?
For your garlic plants to thrive and produce wonderful garlic heads you will need to find a location that has at least 8 hours of direct sunlight a day. Your soil needs to be well-draining soil. Garlic does well in raised beds. This is how I grow my garlic, however, it can grow just fine in ground level beds. Garlic can rot if the soil does not drain well, so don’t plant it in a location that does not have good drainage.
To help prepare the beds before planting you can add 2-4 inches of compost or an organic material to the soil. You can also incorporate 1 teaspoon of complete garden fertilizer per foot of garden rows.
After you purchase your garlic heads/bulbs, make sure that they are separated into individual cloves. You do not want to plant the entire bulb in one planting hole. A word of caution: You Do Not want to buy garlic cloves from the grocery store and plant those for growing. There are a number of reasons why including diseases and not knowing which kinds of garlic you are buying (softneck/hardneck) and what variety.
Once your bed is prepared, you will need to plant your garlic cloves 3-4″ inches apart and about 1 1/2-2 inches deep. You will need to plant the cloves with the pointy end of the garlic facing upwards. If you are not sure which way to plant them you can always lay them on their sides. The tender flower stalk will make it’s way to the surface of the ground. Cover your garlic cloves with soil and then cover the soil with about 2 inches of mulch.
Garlic Plant Care And Maintenance
There is little maintenance needed for garlic plants. You may want to cover your garlic if there is a hard freeze, however, garlic will survive a light freeze. You can apply a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen when the plants are around 3-4 weeks old or when the plants reach 6 inches in height.
Quick Tip: Your garlic will get larger bulbs by cutting off the flowering stems when they begin to emerge from the foliage.
It is best to provide an organic mulch, such as grass clippings or straw to help prevent weeds from growing. The mulch will also help conserve water when there is little rain. Throughout your garlic plants growing season it is best to continuously keep the area free of weeds. This will ensure that your garlic plants will obtain all of the nutrients you are giving it.
Harvesting Your Garlic
Garlic will be ready at different times of year depending where you live. Usually, garlic will be ready to harvest in early summer. You will need to watch your garlic plants for signs that it is time to harvest. Look at the tips of the leaves for signs of turning yellow and the tops falling over. Do not wait until the entire top is brown, When the tops of the plants begin to turn brown the plant will spend its energy trying to keep the plant healthy. You want the plant’s energy to stay in the bulb along with the flavor.
You will need to gently dig your garlic up trying not to damage the bulbs. Using a spading fork will help to keep from damaging the plants. It is best to cut the tops off leaving around 1 inch of stem above the bulb. It is also common to keep the foliage in place and then braid it to store it until ready to use. Hardneck varieties are usually not braided. You will need to store your garlic in a cool, dry place. If you don’t eat all of your garlic it is perfectly normal to use some of the cloves to plant when it is time for the next planting season.
Now What Do I Do With All This Garlic I Planted? Roast It
I love roasted garlic. Roasting garlic is so simple and easy to do. Roasting garlic gives it a deep rich flavor. You can eat roasted garlic all by itself, add it to soups, stews, pizza and other recipes, or just spread it on bread to make garlic bread. But my favorite way to use roasted garlic is to make garlic mashed potatoes. Here is my recipe for making roasted garlic. You can then add the roasted garlic to your mashed potatoes as you are mixing them up.
Roasted Garlic
Ingredients:
- Garlic Head/Whole Garlic
- Olive Oil
- Aluminum Foil
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel and discard the outer papery layers of the garlic. Do not separate the garlic cloves, leave them attached to each other. You will then cut off the top 1/4- 1/2 inch of the head of garlic. This will expose the tops of the garlic gloves. Place the garlic cloves on top of a piece of foil that will be large enough to wrap around the garlic. Drizzle the exposed garlic cloves with olive oil covering all of the tops of the cloves with the oil. Wrap the garlic tightly with the foil. Place the wrapped garlic heads onto a baking sheet and bake for at least 30 minutes. We check the garlic for softness to see when they are done. You can also open your foil to see if they are caramelized to your preference. Then enjoy!
