Garlic is one of our favorite things to grow and eat. We add it to almost every meal for both its flavor and its nutrients. Typically, it’s planted in the fall, will go dormant through the winter, and then will come back in the spring to be harvested in the summer! However, you can also plant it early in the spring if you missed planting in the fall. You may not end up with bulbs as large as fall-planted, but you’ll still get garlic!
How to Grow:
Garlic can be planted 6-8 weeks before your first spring frost, but the best time to plant is in the fall approximately 6 weeks before your first fall frost. You can see specific dates for your location using our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App.
Garlic is planted 2 inches into the soil, 16 per square foot, in the full sun. Take care to notice what plants are around the area as well, see the companion plant section below. Water your garlic weekly.
Companion Plants:
Companion planting is a vital part of organic gardening. Companion plants assist in the growth of others by attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests, or providing nutrients, shade, or support. There are also plants that do not like being next to each other. Some plants get too tall and can provide too much shade for your plant. Sometimes certain plants attract the same pests, so it is important to try and separate these.
Garlic is a great companion plant because it helps to repel pests with its strong odor!
See companion plants for 100+ foods in our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web app!
Pests:
Pests can be one of the most difficult challenges you face in the garden. We strive to grow food without the use of pesticide and luckily there are natural solutions for most of these nasty pests! The pests listed below are common ones for garlic:
Learn more about how to manage pests and attract beneficial insects in our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App!
Harvesting:
Garlic is ready to harvest within approximately 90-120 days. Once the tops of the garlic have started to die down, the garlic can be harvested by digging up the heads. Bulbs should be cured in a warm, dry place out of direct sunlight and then should be stored in a cool, dry location. It can be stored for up to 10 months.
Cooking & Eating!
Learn more about growing over 100 different foods, including how to manage various pests in our FREE iOS, Android, or new Universal Web App!
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