Used for centuries in food preparation and as a medicinal aid, garlic is a popular vegetable garden staple. With dozens of garlic varieties available today, knowing where and plant each type is important for a successful crop. Does this Spark an idea?
Softneck vs. Hardneck Garlic
The Boundary Garlic Farm, a certified organic grower in British Columbia, explains that there are two types of "true" garlic: softneck and hardneck. There are several varieties within in the softneck and hardneck subspecies.
For example, what you're likely to see in the grocery store is a variety of softneck garlic called Silverskin, which has white skin covering cream-colored cloves.
Hardneck varieties have a distinctive stalk that grows out from the top of the bulb and can produce small flowers. The bulbs may be smaller than softneck varieties and the cloves are usually darker.
Planting Garlic
Climate conditions are the first consideration in planting garlic. Bob Anderson, owner of Gourmet Garlic Gardens in Bangs, Texas, says that softneck varieties grow best in warm, moderate climates, like California. Hardneck varieties tend to do better in cooler climates, like the northeastern U.S.
He also notes that the best time of year to plant garlic is autumn, because the garlic needs to "establish its root system so it can survive the winter and be ready to explode with growth in the spring before the weather turns hot." Also, garlic will do best if it receives as much sun as possible during the initial planting period.
After determining which type of garlic to plant, prepare the soil. Anderson recommends loosening the soil using a shovel or tiller to dig beds at least 6-inches deep, allowing room for root growth and water absorption. As with other plants, fertile soil is an asset for a successful garlic crop.
Garlic does not produce seed; cloves are planted directly into the ground. To prepare the garlic for planting, carefully take apart a head of garlic, remove the cloves and peel each clove to be planted. Anderson suggests planting cloves 2--3 inches deep in the soil with 6 inches between each clove.
Watering is important, but overwatering can do more harm than good. Keep the soil moist, but not soaked. Anderson advocates regularly "sticking your hand down into the root zone to feel the soil." If it feels dry, water the plant. If it feels muddy, it doesn't require immediate watering.
When to harvest depends on the type of garlic you've planted. However, the Gourmet Garlic Growers' recommendation is to pay attention to the leaves of each plant because they "signal maturity by turning brown, dying and losing leaves." The bulbs may be too fragile to pull straight from the soil, so carefully shoveling around the bulb and prying them up may be the best approach.
While some growers cut away the plants' roots immediately after harvesting, Anderson advises letting the garlic plants dry out at room temperature for 2--4 weeks to avoid potential spoiling.
Save a few bulbs in a cool, dark place to use for replanting next season.
Tags: climates like, each clove, Gourmet Garlic, Hardneck varieties, softneck hardneck, softneck varieties