After abundance, prepare for planting
This is a great time for garlic enthusiasts — thanks to a good growing season, the garlic crop harvested in July was abundant. Now, it's time to prepare for fall garlic planting to start next summer's crop.
When I mentioned to a friend that I grow many varieties of garlic, the response was, “Why? Isn't all garlic the same?”
Well, no. Some varieties store longer than others. There are varieties that have more heat — those are my husband's favorites.
And some types of garlic bulbs have larger cloves that are easier to peel — those are my favorites!
Garlic is easy to grow in well-prepared soil. Garlic needs soil that drains well and has a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Test your soil with a Penn State kit, available at the Extension Office.
Larger and better-formed bulbs come from soils with higher levels of organic matter, so amend the soil with good compost, and follow the fertilizer recommendations in the test results.
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a member of the lily family and can have white, red or purple colors. Bulbs can have as few as four cloves or as many as 18, such as the variety Tochliarvri.
Flavors vary from mild Elephant garlic (actually a member of the leek family treated as garlic) to very strong Romanian Red. There are well over 100 varieties to choose from.
Garlic grows with either a soft stem (neck), which can be braided, or a hardneck. Hardnecks grow better in Pennsylvania's soils and climate and provide a wider selection when you're looking to grow garlic.
Check out online garlic vendors for the descriptions of heritage and flavors. Have fun at local farmers markets choosing planting stock. Check with gardening friends for their favorites.
Most grocery store garlic is from California and won't grow well here. Often it has been sprayed to prevent sprouting for a longer shelf life — another reason not to choose it for your garden.
In the fall, divide the bulbs into cloves and plant the cloves into rows that are 6 to 12 inches apart. Space each clove in the row 4 to 6 inches from its neighbor. Garlic planted closer than this will result in smaller bulbs. Place each clove 1 to 1.5 inches deep, or 2 to 2.5 inches deep for Elephant garlic.
You want the cloves to develop a good root system before the ground freezes. Mid-October is a good time to plant. Apply 2 to 4 inches of straw mulch after planting to conserve moisture and discourage frost heaving.
In June, hardnecks will form flower heads, or scapes. Cut them off before they can mature, or the bulbs will be very small because the plant put its energy into those scapes instead of the bulb.The scapes can be used in recipes where garlic is called for. Garlic scape pesto is a family favorite.Garlic is ready to harvest when half of its leaves have yellowed. Pull a couple bulbs to check before harvesting everything.If the cloves have begun to separate from the stem, you waited too long. Those cloves won't store well, so use them first.I usually harvest by mid-July; this year I started pulling on June 28. I have never harvested that early, but we had a good growing season this year and the bulbs were ready.Cure the garlic by spacing the plants on screens in an area with good ventilation, out of direct sunlight. Curing will take two to three weeks.When the outer two skin layers are dry, cut the stems off above the tops of the cloves and cut the roots close to the base of the bulb. Store the garlic in a cool area — a root cellar is great if you have one.Enjoy the flavor of home grown garlic.
