It’s that time of year again…or, if you have never tried growing garlic, it’s time to start. Garlic is RIDICULOUSLY easy to grow, and it overwinters, so it doesn’t really take up too much time or precious space in your garden boxes.

Growing garlic is very simple and straightforward. For starters you want to try and find certified garlic bulbs {most local nurseries have it in stock this time of year}.

Some people just buy garlic bulbs at the grocery store, but a lot of times produce {even bulbs} can be sprayed to slow growth, so I like to buy certified garlic bulbs so I know exactly what I’m getting. Botanical Interests and Territorial Seed have a great selection.  If you grew garlic this year, save your very best bulb and use that for planting.  It will already be acclimated  to your weather and soil, making it stronger in the long run.

There are softneck and hardneck varieties–each have pros and cons as far as growing and taste is concerned.  In general, hardneck are a little more hardy when it comes to cold winters.  Hardneck garlic will send up a scape {basically a fancy word for flower and stalk} in the early summer just before it is time to harvest.

The scape needs to be trimmed off when it curls twice {like a pig’s tail} in order to encourage all of the plant’s energy to develop the bulb.  Good news, though:  the scapes are edible and delicious.  Softneck are not as winter hardy, but they do produce more cloves per bulb, so if you have mild winters, they might be the right choice.  Softneck also store longer than hardneck varieties–though, I have gotten both varieties to store all year long until the next harvest, under the right conditions.

To plant garlic, first break the bulb apart and inspect the cloves for any damage.  Toss any cloves that are brown or have decay on them. Next, plant the garlic about 2″ deep and about 6″ apart in loose, well drained soil. Cover the bulbs with soil, water and walk away. Mother Nature will take care of the rest until spring. Unless of course you live somewhere where it never rains during the fall and winter months. If that’s the case, then be sure and give your garlic bed a drink every now and again.

Once the garlic begins to sprout in the spring, I like to cover my garlic patch with a couple inches of leaf litter to help insulate the garlic bulbs a bit from the cold {if you live in a warmer climate you don’t need to do this}.

I don’t know about you, but I use garlic practically every day in my cooking, so it’s really nice to be able to grow it in my backyard each year for a nice stash when I need it.

How to Grow Garlic

• Plant cloves 6 to 8 weeks before a hard freeze so the roots have a chance to get established
• Do not break cloves until you are ready to plant
• Plant cloves 2″ deep with the root end down and the point side up
• Space cloves 4″- 6″ apart {depending on size}

Don’t you just love fall gardening?

Looking for more information in growing, cultivating and enjoying garlic?  Check out the book The Complete Book of Garlic By Ted Jordan Meredith. Its packed full of awesomeness.