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Growing Garlic
By Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor
University of Vermont
Garlic is more than just a flavoring for foods, having many health benefits.
Studies have shown garlic has antioxidant properties, promoting the health of
the heart and immune systems. Allicin, the chemical produced when it is
chopped, chewed, or bruised is a powerful antibiotic. Garlic even has been
shown to reduce cholesterol. Successful growing of garlic starts with
choosing the right "seeds", and giving the correct growing conditions and
culture.
Garlic is related to onion, leeks and shallot, only it has a "bulb" composed of
individual wedges called "cloves". It is one of these cloves that you plant in
the fall, soon after the first frost (32 degrees F) but ideally before the first hard
frost (28 degrees F or below). This will give time for roots to form before the
ground gets too cold. Cloves are planted in the fall, as it is the winter cold
that is needed to form the side buds the following year that will grow to make
the new cloves you'll harvest next summer.
There are three types of garlic varieties. The elephant or great-headed garlic
is related closely to leeks, a mild flavor between garlic and onions. It has a
large bulb and few cloves. More common are the stiffneck varieties, with
cloves surrounding a thick central stem that curls as it grows. These have a
mild flavor, are the most cold hardy, but don't store as well as the more
common varieties. Varieties include Rocambole, purple-striped, and
porcelain types. Rocambole types are popular as they adapt to changing
weather, and are easy to peel.
Most commonly seen are the softneck varieties, named from their stems or
"necks" staying soft when harvested. These are the ones you'll see braided,
and may be called Italian or common garlic. They include the artichoke types
you find in supermarkets, and the silverskins with their very white outer
skins and strong flavor.
There are dozens of varieties among these three main garlic types. Buying
locally adapted varieties, either from a local source or based on reliable local
recommendations, is the first key to success.
Garlic traditionally has been grown in hot climates, and you'll need varieties
bred for and adapted to cold climates for northern gardens. Bulbs from
grocery stores shouldn't be used as they may not be the right varieties, and
may have been treated to prevent sprouting.
Plant in well-drained weed-free soil, such as in raised beds. Slightly dry soils
are best, with a pH of 6 to 7. Incorporate plenty of compost in the fall, and you
may not need to fertilize in spring. Or, you may apply a general garden
fertilizer along rows as shoots emerge in spring, then again 3 weeks later.
Don't fertilize after early May to avoid delaying bulb formation.
Water deeply as needed, especially on sandy soils. Stop watering a couple
weeks before harvest.
Garlic roots are near the surface, so if cultivating for weeds keep near the
surface just cutting weeds off there. Be careful to avoid injuring plants.
To avoid potential diseases, don't plant where other onion crops have been
the past 2 or 3 years. Proper soil, mulching, and crop rotation will lessen the
chance of any diseases. Garlic has few if any insect problems.
Large cloves produce the largest bulbs next year. Separate the cloves from
bulbs, keeping the papery husks on, and plant with tips pointing up. Plant 2
inches deep, 4 to 6 inches apart in rows, with rows a foot or two apart. You
can plant small cloves closer, or in patches to harvest
the tops as garlic greens. Figure that a pound of cloves you plant may yield 7
to 10 pounds.
Although you won't see growth until spring, roots will begin growing. Mulch
heavily to at least 6 inches deep, such as with weed-free straw, to keep the soil
warmer in fall and winter. Remove mulch in spring, leaving some if desired
for weed suppression. Planting soon enough in fall, and mulching deeply,
will help prevent the seed cloves being heaved out of the ground with spring
frost.
Garlic is harvested in mid-summer, early to mid July in the north, but stage of
growth not the calendar is the indicator of when to harvest. You should start
checking the bulbs when the foliage begins to die off. You need to check the
bulbs, not just use the tops dying, as yearly climate conditions can affect the
tops and not the bulbs.
The bulbs are of course not solid like a flower bulb, rather have the cloves
encased in several papery layers called "sheaths". Harvest too soon, and the
cloves won't be segmented yet. Harvest too late and the sheaths will have
come off, leaving just the cloves that are hard to get out of the ground or may
even begin growth. Ideal harvest is when there are 2 to 4 sheath layers
present, which occurs over about a 2-week period.
Once harvested, wash the bulbs and allow to dry for a week or so out of direct
sun. Then trim off the roots, remove the outer dried sheath layers, and then
braid if you wish for storage. Cool (50 to 65 degrees F), dry, and
well-ventilated are ideal conditions for storage. Check monthly to discard
any soft bulbs that may be rotting internally. Set aside the largest cloves for
planting again in fall.
By Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor
University of Vermont
Garlic is more than just a flavoring for foods, having many health benefits.
Studies have shown garlic has antioxidant properties, promoting the health of
the heart and immune systems. Allicin, the chemical produced when it is
chopped, chewed, or bruised is a powerful antibiotic. Garlic even has been
shown to reduce cholesterol. Successful growing of garlic starts with
choosing the right "seeds", and giving the correct growing conditions and
culture.
Garlic is related to onion, leeks and shallot, only it has a "bulb" composed of
individual wedges called "cloves". It is one of these cloves that you plant in
the fall, soon after the first frost (32 degrees F) but ideally before the first hard
frost (28 degrees F or below). This will give time for roots to form before the
ground gets too cold. Cloves are planted in the fall, as it is the winter cold
that is needed to form the side buds the following year that will grow to make
the new cloves you'll harvest next summer.
There are three types of garlic varieties. The elephant or great-headed garlic
is related closely to leeks, a mild flavor between garlic and onions. It has a
large bulb and few cloves. More common are the stiffneck varieties, with
cloves surrounding a thick central stem that curls as it grows. These have a
mild flavor, are the most cold hardy, but don't store as well as the more
common varieties. Varieties include Rocambole, purple-striped, and
porcelain types. Rocambole types are popular as they adapt to changing
weather, and are easy to peel.
Most commonly seen are the softneck varieties, named from their stems or
"necks" staying soft when harvested. These are the ones you'll see braided,
and may be called Italian or common garlic. They include the artichoke types
you find in supermarkets, and the silverskins with their very white outer
skins and strong flavor.
There are dozens of varieties among these three main garlic types. Buying
locally adapted varieties, either from a local source or based on reliable local
recommendations, is the first key to success.
Garlic traditionally has been grown in hot climates, and you'll need varieties
bred for and adapted to cold climates for northern gardens. Bulbs from
grocery stores shouldn't be used as they may not be the right varieties, and
may have been treated to prevent sprouting.
Plant in well-drained weed-free soil, such as in raised beds. Slightly dry soils
are best, with a pH of 6 to 7. Incorporate plenty of compost in the fall, and you
may not need to fertilize in spring. Or, you may apply a general garden
fertilizer along rows as shoots emerge in spring, then again 3 weeks later.
Don't fertilize after early May to avoid delaying bulb formation.
Water deeply as needed, especially on sandy soils. Stop watering a couple
weeks before harvest.
Garlic roots are near the surface, so if cultivating for weeds keep near the
surface just cutting weeds off there. Be careful to avoid injuring plants.
To avoid potential diseases, don't plant where other onion crops have been
the past 2 or 3 years. Proper soil, mulching, and crop rotation will lessen the
chance of any diseases. Garlic has few if any insect problems.
Large cloves produce the largest bulbs next year. Separate the cloves from
bulbs, keeping the papery husks on, and plant with tips pointing up. Plant 2
inches deep, 4 to 6 inches apart in rows, with rows a foot or two apart. You
can plant small cloves closer, or in patches to harvest
the tops as garlic greens. Figure that a pound of cloves you plant may yield 7
to 10 pounds.
Although you won't see growth until spring, roots will begin growing. Mulch
heavily to at least 6 inches deep, such as with weed-free straw, to keep the soil
warmer in fall and winter. Remove mulch in spring, leaving some if desired
for weed suppression. Planting soon enough in fall, and mulching deeply,
will help prevent the seed cloves being heaved out of the ground with spring
frost.
Garlic is harvested in mid-summer, early to mid July in the north, but stage of
growth not the calendar is the indicator of when to harvest. You should start
checking the bulbs when the foliage begins to die off. You need to check the
bulbs, not just use the tops dying, as yearly climate conditions can affect the
tops and not the bulbs.
The bulbs are of course not solid like a flower bulb, rather have the cloves
encased in several papery layers called "sheaths". Harvest too soon, and the
cloves won't be segmented yet. Harvest too late and the sheaths will have
come off, leaving just the cloves that are hard to get out of the ground or may
even begin growth. Ideal harvest is when there are 2 to 4 sheath layers
present, which occurs over about a 2-week period.
Once harvested, wash the bulbs and allow to dry for a week or so out of direct
sun. Then trim off the roots, remove the outer dried sheath layers, and then
braid if you wish for storage. Cool (50 to 65 degrees F), dry, and
well-ventilated are ideal conditions for storage. Check monthly to discard
any soft bulbs that may be rotting internally. Set aside the largest cloves for
planting again in fall.
