From Soil to Plate: Steps for Growing Big Garlic
Growing gigantic garlic is an enjoyable way to indulge your gardening hobby or culinary interests. The process starts in the fall by selecting only the largest cloves from your most recent harvest.
These oversized cloves are planted root-side down in nutrient-rich soil, about an inch underground. As winter approaches, the buried cloves use cooler temperatures to develop extensive root systems in preparation for massive growth.
Once spring arrives, their below-ground work will be evident as volunteers emerge greener and greater than usual.
The sprouts thrive all season with strategic watering and placement in plenty of sun. Those who receive the best care will ultimately produce enormous, braidable bulbs come harvest time in fall.
How Does Garlic Grow?
Here are the basic steps in how garlic grows:
Bulb Formation: In the year before planting, the garlic bulb forms underground as energy is stored in the bulb. Each bulb will have several cloves.
Planting: Individuals growing garlic from cloves are planted pointed-end in the fall in most climates. They are planted 4-6 inches deep and 6-12 inches apart. This dormant period allows the cloves to start root growth before spring.
Sprouting: In early spring, when soil temperatures reach around 45-50°F, the cloves will grow and send up shoots.
Leaf Growth: The shoots, called scapes, continue growing taller. Leaves will form in a fan-like shape. This is the vegetative growth stage, where the plant uses energy stores to grow above ground.
Bulbing: In late spring/early summer, the plant receives cues like day length that trigger it to stop growing leaves and focus energy on bulb formation underground. Individual cloves swell at the base of each shoot to form new bulb sections.
Harvest: Garlic is typically ready for harvest once the leaves start to yellow and dry out, around late June-August, depending on variety and location. The entire plant is pulled and cured for a few weeks before the dry bulbs are separated.
Seed Formation: A few hardneck varieties will also form a curly flower stalk called a scape. They can be eaten or removed to encourage bulb growth. Seeds may form, which can be planted the following year.
When to Grow Garlic – Best Time of the Year
The best time to plant garlic is in the early fall, around 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes. This timing works well for the garlic plant. During fall, the soil and air are cooler. This allows the individual growing garlic from cloves to focus on building roots without sending up leaves too early.
Over winter, the plant stays dormant underground. Then, the garlic wakes up in early spring when it gets warmer outside. It starts to send up fresh green leaves. During spring and summer, the leaves grow tall and green.
All this time above ground, the plant is slowly making a new garlic bulb underground. By midsummer, the bulb is fully formed and ready for harvest. You’ll know it’s time when the leaves start to fade and dry out.
Planting in fall gives the garlic plant just the proper cycle. Roots are in fall, dormancy is in winter, top growth is in spring/summer, and bulbs are ready by the next harvest season. This timing lets garlic thrive year after year.
How to Plant Garlic Cloves – 10 Easy-to-Follow Instructions
Planting garlic cloves in the fall gives them time to set powerful roots before sprouting in the spring. To get started, follow these steps:
Step 1: Select Your Garlic Type
There are a few varieties you can grow from cloves. The most common are hardneck and softneck garlic. Hardneck varieties can grow long flower stalks called scapes. Softneck garlic winds into soft loops instead of growing stiff scapes.
Softneck garlic is good for braiding whole bulbs. Hardneck varieties may be better if you want individual large cloves. Ask at your garden center which types grow well in your climate. Pick one, and you’re ready for the next step!
Step 2: Now! Prepare Soil for Planting
To plant garlic, the soil must be loose and weed-free. A few weeks before planting, turn over the garden bed where you will grow. This loosens up packed dirt.
Also, remove any weeds growing there. Weeds will compete with garlic for water and nutrients. Add compost or other organic matter to enrich the dirt. This feeds the soil and helps it hold moisture.
Break up any clumps so the soil is loose and fluffy. Garlic roots need room to spread out below. Raking the soil smooths out the top so it’s ready. Now, the dirt is prepped and perfect for planting garlic cloves!
Step 3: Choose the Biggest Cloves to Plant
Take time to select the largest cloves from each garlic bulb head. Pick fat cloves at least half an inch wide. These larger cloves will give the sprouting plant an advantage as it grows.
Their extra size at planting leads to bigger bulbs at harvest. Carefully remove just the plumpest, heaviest cloves to ensure your garlic develops to its fullest potential underground.
Step 4: 6-Inch Spacing is Must – OK!
When planting your chosen garlic cloves, space them about 6 inches apart from each other. Dig little holes with your trowel or fingertips at this 6-inch interval.
Create rows with a foot between each. This leaves enough room underground for the bulbs to swell up to their maximum size without crowding each other. Proper spacing is key to big bulb growth.
Step 5: Maintain Proper Soil Moisture
Check the soil regularly as your garlic plants grow. They need about 1-2 inches of water each week to thrive. When the top few inches feel dry, water well until soaked below.
Also, use mulch between rows to retain moisture from rainfall. Keeping the dirt consistently moist allows garlic bulbs to bulk up properly without stress. Proper watering is vital for maximum harvest size.
Step 6: It’s Time to Fertilize
Around early spring in March, feed each garlic plant for boosted growth. Scatter a small amount of organic fertilizer or compost by the base of greens.
The nutrients give energy during the prime growing months. This extra boost supports bulb development and increases their final sizes at harvest time. Good soil nutrition will result in larger, stronger bulbs come summer’s end.
Step 7: Scape Removal Is Important
By summer, long stems called scapes emerge from plants. For plumper bulbs at harvest, cut these off with scissors above where they join the stalk.
Removing scapes directs garlic’s energy underground instead of into seed production. Leaving scapes takes away from bulb enlargement. Cutting scapes ensures maximum sizes by focusing all resources into the targeted bulbs below.
Step 8: Perfect Time for Harvesting
Look for when the bottom leaves turn brown and dry, usually in July. Carefully dig up each plant, trying not to damage bulbs still attached. Gently wipe off excess soil.
Lay harvested garlic in a sunny, sheltered spot to cure for a week. This dries the bulbs properly before further handling. Perfectly cured garlic ensures long storage through winter.
Step 9: Cure and Clean
After one week of sun-curing, brush or wipe away leftover stalks and dry outer paper layers from bulbs. Continue air drying indoors away from direct sun or rain for several weeks.
Properly cured bulbs will keep in cool storage through winter. Regularly check bulbs and discard any showing rot so the rest remain fresh until the next planting season arrives.
Step 10: Storing Garlic
Fully cured bulbs are now ready for long-term storage. Choose a dry, cool area out of direct light, like a cellar or shed—place bulbs in mesh or paper bags with airflow. Check regularly for rot and remove any damaged bulbs.
Adequately stored garlic lasts months, extending your homegrown supply through fall and winter. Next season, plant again to enjoy an ongoing harvest!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does Garlic Take to Grow?
It takes about 7-10 months for garlic to fully mature from planting to harvest.
How to Plant A Garlic Clove?
To plant garlic cloves, follow these steps:
- Break up soil and incorporate compost or fertilizer.
- Plant individual garlic cloves pointed end up, about 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart in rows.
- Space rows 1-2 feet apart.
- Water well after planting.
How Long Does It Take for Garlic to Grow?
Greens emerge 6-8 weeks after spring planting, bulbs enlarge through summer, harvesting when leaves brown in late June-August.
When to Grow Garlic?
The best time to plant garlic is in the fall, 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes. This allows cloves to establish robust root systems over winter for healthy spring bulb growth. Garlic can also be planted as early as possible in spring.
Conclusion
These ten key steps allow home gardeners to grow large garlic bulbs successfully.
From soil preparation to harvest and storage, choosing plump cloves provides good spacing, watering, and nutrients means reaping a bountiful reward.
With the proper care at each stage, your hard work will be enjoyed for months. Sharing the fresh garlic you’ve grown with family and friends is satisfying. Now you’re ready to start the process anew next season!