Garden Primer: Garlic 101

I love this time of year in the garden.  Even though I’m ready for spring and can’t wait to get out there and dig in the dirt, the winter break gives me time to reflect and plan.  While it appears the garden is slumbering through the cold winter in apparent hibernation, there’s a lot happening beneath the surface.

This past fall we planted garlic and shallots.  When the ground begins to thaw in the spring, their bright green tips are the first signs of life we see.  Then, they’ll continue to grow and grow until harvested in the summer.  Last year we had a really nice crop and hoping for an even better crop this year.

There are 2 different kinds of garlic:  Hardneck and Softneck.  The names are a little misleading because softnecks store well and remain hard for much longer.  This is the kind of garlic your grocery store sells and if you ever see braided garlic, it’s from a softneck variety as well.

Hardnecks, on the other hand, do not last as long in storage.  The cloves are generally larger than the soft necks and easier to peel.  They do, however, produce wonderful flower stalks, called scapes, which are delicious to eat.  These get removed to encourage the garlic bulb to enlarge.

Planting garlic is super easy and requires very little effort.  Initially, I spend a little more time prepping the soil and ensuring the rows are straight and spacing is accurate.  As a general rule of thumb, plant garlic cloves 2-inches deep and about 4-inches apart.  I always defer to the growing guide that comes with seeds and bulbs rather than guess.

A garden ruler is an invaluable tool in the garden.  Click here for one you can quickly make yourself.

Tips for success:

• Garlic can be planted in the spring as soon as the ground can be worked, but fall planting is recommended for larger bulbs and better flavor.
• Garlic prefers a well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter.
• Plant cloves 4 to 6 weeks before the first hard frost of fall.
• As a general rule of thumb, plant cloves 2-inches deep and about 4-inches apart.
• After the ground freezes, mulch heavily with hay, straw, or my preference, shredded leaves.
• A note on watering:  After planting water the garlic well every 3-5 days for 2 weeks.  Ensure even watering during bulbing (mid-May through June).

This year we planted 4 different kinds of garlic {clockwise from top left}:

German White

This hard neck is one of the most widely grown and produces porcelain white bulbs that tend to last a bit longer than most hardnecks.

Chesnok Red

This hardneck with a full robust flavor originated from the nation of Georgia.  The large cloves are easy to peel and hold their shape nicely when cooked.

Silverskin

This softneck is a favorite for braiding.  Spicy and hot, the bulb wrappers are white while the cloves are covered in pinkish-colored skins.

Chet’s Italian Red

This very popular softneck was found growing in an abandoned garden in Washington state in the 1960’s.  The bulb can reach good size and produce up to 20 cloves in 3 or 4 layers.  Relatively mild taste.

Garlic is one of the easiest things to grow and the rewards are incredible.  Be certain to add garlic to your to-do list for this spring and next year’s garden!

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