Plant cloves October through November and harvest in June. Garlic grows best in well drained soil so amend your beds with compost if needed.
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| Three different varieties of garlic |
Make sure to separate the whole garlic bulb into separate cloves. Skip planting any cloves that look dried out. Plant 5-6 inches apart and 1 inch deep. Plant cloves with their pointed tips up.
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| Remove any cloves that are dried up |
Water the beds after planting and apply a mulch of compost, straw or grass clippings. This will protect the gloves in the cold months.
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| Make holes easily with the back of a hoe or stick |
Stop watering the beginning of June. When the plant has 3-4 brown leaves it is ready to harvest. Dig the bulb out carefully. It will have to be cured for 3-4 weeks. Lay the garlic down in a area with good air circulation and out of direct sunlight. Make sure the garlic does not get wet.
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| One clove per hole |
Once cured, cut off the stalk leaving 1-2 inches. Also trim the roots to less than 1/8 inch. Brush off dirt and do not peel the outer skin. Garlic stores best in a cool, dry place around 50-60 degrees. Such as a root cellar or cool basement with low humidity.
