Steps to Growing Garlic:

1. Prepare the Soil

In order to grow big heads of garlic make sure your soil is loose & fertile. Garlic prefers rich, well-drained & weed-free soil located in full sun. Loosen the soil with a digging fork, spread a 2 to 3 inches of compost or manure over the area and work it into the soil.

2. Choose the Desired Garlic Variety & Healthiest Cloves

There are two main types of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Hardneck garlic varieties have cloves growing around a hard central stalk. hardnecks yield large cloves that are easy to peel but they are more difficult to grow. Softneck garlics have more cloves, with big ones around the outside of the head & small ones at the center. Softneck garlic may last longer than hardneck garlic. Break apart your head of garlic and plant the biggest cloves. The bigger the clove, the nicer head of garlic you will grow. Use the smaller cloves of garlic to cook with in the kitchen.

3. Planting your Cloves

Place the cloves 4 inches apart. Make sure each clove has the pointed end up, and push it into the soil about 2 inches deep. After planting all the cloves, cover your holes and water well. Make sure to label your garlic so you know which variety is which. After the garlic sprouts, put mulch around the garlic to prevent weeds from growing. I usually use straw for mulch.

4. Spring Time Care & Water

Beginning in the spring make sure to pull any weeds that may have grown around your garlic. Hardneck varieties produce garlic scapes in the spring. If left on the plant, they will draw energy from the bulb, reducing size and quality. Cut scapes off immediately and cook with them. They are edible and a delicacy. Giving your garlic a nutrient boost in the early spring is recommended, add a layer of compost. Garlic isn’t greedy for water, but it doesn’t like to dry out, either. When the soil feels dry an inch below the surface, it’s time to water. In mid June, stop watering.

5. Harvesting in Summer

Harvest in early summer when the plants are beginning to turn brown. To harvest, use a garden fork below the garlic to carefully pry them loose and then pull them out. Shake off any excess soil. As soon as you’ve finished harvesting, move the plants to an airy location that is protected from sun and rain. Make sure to keep your labels with the correct variety.

6. Dry and Store your Heads

To dry your garlic, hang the bulbs with all of their foliage. You can eat them right away, but the bulbs you want to save for later need to be cured. After a few weeks of drying, trim the stalks to 12 inch above the bulb, and trim the roots close to the bulb. Rub off the outer layer of skin and any soil that may be clinging to the base. Try not to remove more wrapper layers than you have to. Store the bulbs in a well-ventilated, dark spot. Set aside the biggest bulbs for planting the next fall.