Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Planting garlic
I LOVE garlic!
For the first time, I planted garlic last October. For zone 4 folks, the middle of October is a good time, after the first killing frost. If you live in Zone 3 then a couple of weeks earlier is sufficient.
There are a LOT of varieties of garlic but the best type for our cold zones is a ‘Hardneck’ variety. They tolerate our climate conditions much better than the softneck type. Don’t plant grocery store garlic!
What’s the difference between hardneck and softneck varieties? It’s all about their physical characteristics. Hardneck garlic has a hard stalk at its center, and softneck garlic doesn’t. Hardnecks typically have thicker, more brittle skin, unlike softneck garlic that tends to be papery and a bit more difficult to peel.
Garlic grows best in sandy loam soil due to its texture and draining capabilities. However, I don’t have that but mine turned out pretty darn good! Add organic matter to your planting area for optimum growing. A raised bed is a great option.
- Plant cloves pointy side up about 6 inches apart in rows about 24 inches apart.
- Three to 5 weeks after planting, mulch your garlic bed with a 3 to 4 inch layer of straw to keep temperatures more moderate. The cold isn’t the problem, it’s the ground-heaving that can push the bulb out of the ground.
- You can remove the mulch in April. Watering is most critical from mid May through June as garlic has a shallow root system.
- For hardneck varieties, it’s recommended that you remove what’s called the scape once it starts to curl.
Here’s a lot more information on Planting and Harvesting Garlic from the University of MN Extension.
I harvested mine in early July. They are then cured.
Garlic is technically a vegetable!
When chopping your garlic, the more you slice, pound, grate or chop your garlic, the more of a compound, called allicin, is released. So, if you grate your garlic using the small holes on a box grater, or purée it in a food processor, your garlic will be much more pungent than if it were sliced. A recipe for Roasted Garlic
I use garlic for nearly everything! I LOVE it! In eggs, shrimp dishes, pastas, chili and, of course, my roasted tomatoes!!
