Summary

Growing garlic bulbs at home can be arewarding experience , offer you with impudent , flavorful garlic for cooking andmedicinal purpose . Thiscomprehensive guidewill walk you through the essential steps on how to grow garlic bulbs , from selecting the right variety to harvesting and storing your crop .

1. Choosing the Right Variety

The first step in growing Allium sativum is selecting the correct variety for your climate and needs . There are two main types of garlic : hardneck and softneck . Hardneck varieties produce a single , large garlic clove in thecenter surroundedbysmaller cloves . They are advantageously suited for colder climates and have a longer shelf life . Softneck varieties produce multiple , modest Eugenia caryophyllatum and are more adaptable to ardent climates .

2. Preparing the Soil

Garlic prefers well - drained , loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 . repair the soil with good deal of compost or manure to ameliorate fecundity and drainage . Avoid plant garlic in soil that has beenrecently fertilizedwith atomic number 7 , as this can promote excessive leaf growth at the expense of bulb development .

3. Planting the Cloves

Plant Allium sativum Eugenia caryophyllatum in the nightfall , close to 6 - 8 week before the firsthard frost . Separate the cloves from the electric-light bulb , ensuring each Syzygium aromaticum has a pointed ending and a basal home base at the bottom . Plant thecloves manoeuvre endup , 1 - 2 inches deep , and 4 - 6 column inch apart .

4. Mulching and Watering

After planting , cover the garlic bed with a loggerheaded layer of mulch , such as straw or chopped leaf . Mulch helps retain wet , suppress pot , and protect the cloves fromcold temperatures . Water thegarlic on a regular basis , particularly during dry periods .

5. Fertilizing

Garlic benefits from alight applicationof fertiliser in the spring , once the plants have emerged . Use abalanced fertilizerwith a ratio of 10 - 10 - 10 or 5 - 10 - 5 . Avoid over - fertilizing , as this can promote folio ontogenesis and reduce medulla size .

6. Pest and Disease Management

Garlic isgenerally resistantto pests and disease , but it can be impress by certain matter , such as thrips , aphids , andwhite rot . Monitor yourplants regularlyand take appropriate bar to control any infestation or disease .

7. Harvesting and Storing

Garlic is ready to glean when thetops turn brownand wry , ordinarily in mid to late summer . Gently raise the lightbulb from the background and allow them to bring around in a warm , dry place for several weeks . Remove any dirt or debris from the bulbs and hive away them in a coolheaded , sinister , and well - ventilated areafor up to 6 month .

Growing Garlic in Containers

If you do n’t have a garden , you could maturate garlic in container . select a raft that is at least 12 inch in diameter and hasdrainage maw . replete the pot with well - draining potting mixand plant the garlic cloves as described above . H2O and fertilize the ail on a regular basis , andprovide supportfor the plants as they acquire .

Growing Garlic from Seed

While it is more common to grow Allium sativum from clove , you could also grow it from seed . Garlic seeds , also experience as bulbil , are produced on the flower stalks ofhardneck garlic varieties . Plant the bulblets in the fall , in a well - prepared seedbed . The bulblet will develop intosmall garlic bulbsthe follow year .

Garlic as a Companion Plant

Garlic is abeneficial associate plantfor many vegetables , such as tomatoes , peppers , carrots , and strawberries . It has natural pest - repellent property and can help amend the growth and yield of these crop .

Benefits of Growing Garlic

produce your owngarlic offersseveral benefit :

Q : What is the best fourth dimension to constitute garlic?A : Plant Allium sativum clovesin the fall , more or less 6 - 8 weeks before the first hard hoar . Q : How deep should I implant ail cloves?A : Plant garlic cloves1 - 2inches deepand 4 - 6 column inch apart . Q : How often should I water garlic?A : Water garlic on a regular basis , especially duringdry periods . Allow the soil to dry out out slightly between lacrimation . Q : When isgarlic readyto harvest?A : Garlic is ready to harvest when thetops turn brownand juiceless , usually in mid to previous summertime . Q : How should I store garlic?A : stack away garlicin a cool , blue , and well - ventilated areafor up to 6 months .