Garlic is considered a key essential for many dishes. Right? It can enhance the taste and flavor. Many countries produce garlic, export it, and make revenue from it. It is generally considered a large-scale crop, but that is incorrect. You can grow garlic anywhere from small agricultural land to a garden. However, many people are unaware of how to grow garlic.
Remember, garlic prices generally remain high as many countries import it. The importation fees and taxes make it less budget-friendly. Learning to grow your garlic can be a rewarding experience. Imagine having garlic in your garden and using it as needed. This article will help explain how you can grow garlic in easy steps.
When Is the Best Time to Plant Garlic?
Before learning how to grow garlic, let’s first know when to grow it. Remember, growing garlic at the right time can improve its growth. Timely-grown garlic will have a larger clove and a stronger bulb.
The right time to grow garlic is in the fall before the winter season kicks in. In simple words, you can grow garlic between late October and early November. When the winter comes, it fastens the growth of cloves. In cold weather, garlic undergoes a process known as vernalization. This process helps strengthen the bulb and individual cloves.
However, which type of garlic you’re growing also determines when you should grow it. For example, softneck garlic is generally grown in the fall seasons in cold climates. On the flipside, the hardneck garlic requires a warmer climate. So you can grow it in the spring season. You’ll see many farmers growing garlic in spring.
However, I don’t recommend growing garlic in spring. The reason is that spring is followed by summer, which suppresses the vernalization process. Therefore, the bulb and clove sizes will remain smaller due to the absence of vernacularization. However, if you have missed the right time, you can still grow it in the spring seasons. However, the best time to grow garlic is in the fall.
How to Grow Garlic: Step-by-Step Guide
I know garlic crops can be challenging to grow if you don’t have basic know-how. Understanding the key steps is essential for prosperous garlic plantations. If you see the process, growing profitable garlic will be much easier for you. In the section below, I’ll explain the process in practical steps. So, let’s get started!
Choose the Right Type of Garlic
The first step is to choose the type of garlic you want to grow. For example, you can select either softneck or hardneck garlic, depending on your needs. Softneck garlic generally has a higher number of smaller cloves. On the other hand, hardneck garlic has a small number of cloves, but they are large.
The softneck garlic is ideal for those areas where the temperature remains on the lower side. On the other hand, hardneck is a good option for regions with higher temperatures. However, remember that softneck garlic can be stored and last longer than hardneck garlic. You should analyze the pros and cons of these types and choose the right garlic type.
Choose the Right Location & Prepare the Soil
Choosing the correct location and spot is key for the healthy growth of garlic. Remember, garlic crops require at least 6 hours of continuous sunlight exposure. Therefore, choose a location where sunlight is present for most of the day. Moreover, the soil should not hold water for long. There should be well-drained, loose, and loamy drains.
I highly recommend conducting soil tests before planting. It will help with knowing soil activity. The garlic grows well in slightly acidic soils. If your soil is more alkaline, you can use an acidifier, such as liquid sulfur. It will lower the soil’s alkalinity. As a result, the garlic will grow with more strength and offer better profitability.
Quick Highlight: Soil with more organic matter is considered healthier. Regardless of what you grow, soil rich in organic matter will support it. Therefore, I recommend adding compost or aged manure to the soil before planting garlic. This will increase the fertility of the land and enrich it with organic matter. This addition will improve the production of garlic.
Separate Cloves From Bulb and Plant the Cloves
Once the soil is ready, it is time to separate the cloves from the bulb. As you know, garlic bulbs consist of multiple cloves. You will need to remove those cloves and plant them in the soil. Remember, plant only healthier and larger-sized cloves. If your bulb has small cloves, you should not use it.
I recommend purchasing garlic seeds from a local garden center. These seed garlic are made for planting. Such garlic has a more substantial bulk with bigger and healthier cloves. These cloves are safe from disease. If you plant such cloves, you’ll get garlic with larger cloves, which are in demand on the market once you have a bulk supply. Then, separate the cloves from it.
Now, plant each of these cloves in the soil. Ensure that you plant cloves in the soil at least 2 inches deep. The cloves should not remain visible from the surface. Moreover, plant them with their pointy end up. The flat, roody end of cloves should be downward. There should be space between each clove you plant.
Water Mulch & Care with Fertilizers
Once you have planted the cloves, it is time to keep watering your crop. Remember, garlic grows better in moist conditions. You should water the crop daily, but also avoid overwatering. I recommend using a sprinkling system for gentle watering. This will keep the soil soft and loamy, helping garlic grow well.
You should also cover the garlic crop with mulch. It can be either straw or grass clippings. Their presence on the garlic will retain moisture and prevent weeds from attaching to the garlic. Once the weather becomes warmer, you should remove this mulch. This way, garlic will get sunlight and grow faster. When you see garlic growing, be sure to apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to it.
Quick Advice: Avoid using fertilizer when you see bulb growth. Remember, fertilizer improves leafy growth, but don’t focus on bulb formation. During bulb formation, plants should use all their energy to increase the size of the bulb. If you add fertilizer, the garlic will focus on improving its leaf. The bulb size will remain smaller, which is bad for profitability.
Harvest in summer when Leaves Become Yellow
Continue watering the garlic for several months to keep the soil consistently moist. Garlic harvesting season starts in September. But the question is, how do you know if your garlic is ready to harvest? For this, I recommend you analyze the color of garlic. If the garlic has green leaves, it means it is not ready for harvesting.
However, if the leaves are brown or yellowish, it indicates the garlic is ready to harvest. Before harvesting, stop watering so that the soil becomes dry. It will help me efficiently harvest. You can use a garden fork. It will help take out the garlic without affecting its bulb. You can sell this garlic wholesale and make a profit. The useless garden will now continue to earn you some money.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow garlic?
Generally, the garlic growth can take around 8 to 9 months. However, In some cases, it can take up to 10 months.
Can you plant an entire bulb of garlic?
Yes, one individual clove you plant will give you a complete bulb of garlic. It means if you plant more cloves, you’ll get more garlic bulbs, and vice versa.
What is the best soil for garlic?
The moist, loamy, sandy, and soft soil is considered ideal for growing garlic. You can further enhance its fertility by adding organic matter and manure. Remember, the better the soil, the more garlic production will be, and vice versa.
Conclusion
Planting the garlic can be an excellent experience. It will provide you with a vegetable at home and can also be a source of income. If you don’t have agricultural land, you can grow it in your home’s garden. This small-scale garlic plantation can be profitable if you follow proper guidelines and practices.