Garlic is a fantastic vegetable to have growing in your garden during the cooler months. It can be added to many dishes to give them an extra zing, and is packed full of antioxidants and other nutrients that are great for your health.
Those that love to have garlic on hand when cooking may like to learn how to grow garlic in their garden.
The great news is that growing garlic is a relatively simple task! If you’re looking to add garlic to your garden, here are a few tips for how you can do it.
Choose your spot
When growing garlic, the first element to consider is where you will plant it. Garlic grows best in an area of full sun that has well-drained soil. If your garden doesn’t have an area like this, don’t worry – garlic is a fairly adaptable plant and can grow in a range of different conditions. Garlic also generally grows well in pots, providing a great option for renters and those that want the convenience of moving their garlic around as they wish.
Choose the variety
Once you’ve decided where you’ll be planting your garlic cloves, it’s time to decide the variety you want to grow. There are more than 200 varieties of garlic out there. Thankfully, the steps for how to grow garlic remain relatively the same regardless of the variety of garlic you choose to plant.
Garlic varieties are split into two categories: hardneck garlic and softneck garlic. Hardneck varieties tend to grow well in colder climates, while softneck varieties generally grow better in warmer climates.
Some popular varieties of garlic to grow include:
- Chesnok Red Garlic (hardneck)
- Elephant Garlic (hardneck)
- Artichoke Garlic (softneck)
- Purple Stripe Garlic (hardneck)
- Porcelain Garlic (hardneck)
How to plant garlic
Planting garlic generally means growing garlic from a clove. Choose the space you wish to grow your garlic and the type you want to grow, then get to planting. A good time for planting garlic cloves is during the autumn, as this gives the plants time to grow and mature during the winter months.
Separate your garlic bulb into individual bulbs and place them in the soil with the spiked end facing towards the sky. Don’t bury the bulbs too deeply in the soil, 3cm to 4cm is good. If you’re planting multiple cloves of garlic, space them 15cm apart to allow for plenty of growing room. Once planted, place a little organic mulch over the planting spot and water well.
How to care for garlic plants
Garlic plants are relatively easy to care for, making them a great vegetable for those that are new to gardening. Simply water the garlic regularly and place down a little organic mulch every few weeks and your plants should be healthy and happy. Mulch should help to keep the ground moist while also keeping weeds at bay.
How long does garlic take to grow?
When planted in the autumn, garlic will typically grow throughout the season and the winter before being ready to harvest in the summer. Generally, garlic will take around eight months to grow from the planted bulb to a stage ready for harvesting.
When to harvest garlic
You can tell your garlic is ready for harvesting when the leaves on the shoots begin to yellow and die off. This will typically happen in the summer, and signals that your garlic is good to be harvested. When it comes to harvesting garlic, simply dig down and remove the bulbs from the dirt.
Once removed, leave the garlic bulbs to dry somewhere with plenty of ventilation. Dust off any soil particles and then either plait the leaves together to hang the garlic, or remove the leaves and store your bulbs individually. Leave your garlic like this for a number of weeks to months before cooking with it. After a while, you’ll have your own homegrown garlic available to use in the kitchen!
Garlic makes a wonderful growing vegetable for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. If you enjoy cooking with garlic and want an alternative to store-bought garlic, why not give growing your own a go? With a little bit of work, you could soon be growing garlic and enjoying all the benefits of your own homegrown vegetables.
Get your garden in shape with our professional gardening services. Call us today!
