Autumn is here, with its sunny days, crisp nights, and riot of colorful foliage.

The harvest is almost complete, and gardeners are preparing their vegetable beds for a long winter's nap. Now is the best time to plant aromatic and healthful garlic to reap next summer.

These papery white bulbs are easy to grow, hardy in our growing zone, and are bothered by few pests or diseases. Aim to have them in the ground three or four weeks before the ground freezes, which gives the roots time to develop, but not enough for green shoots to poke through the ground.

There are two popular types of garlic — softneck and hardneck — named after the stalk that grows up from the bulb.

For our long cold winters, hardneck varieties tend to perform better than the softneck varieties. Hardneck garlic has a firm, edible flower stalk and large cloves, which are flavorful and easy to peel. Softneck garlic, on the other hand, has a flexible flower stalk which can be braided, smaller cloves and a longer storage life.

If you don't have a friend who grows garlic, you may be able to purchase these rosy tinged bulbs at a farmers market, a local garden center, or an online seed company.

To plant garlic, select a sunny site in your garden that receives six to eight hours of direct light. Work the ground deeply and amend it with compost or well-rotted manure. Add fertilizer or bone meal into the soil where you plan to set your garlic.A day or two before planting, gently separate the individual cloves and retain each clove's papery husk.Set the larger cloves aside for planting, as they will produce larger bulbs for harvesting next summer.The smaller ones can be used for cooking. Place the cloves 4 to 6 inches apart and 2 inches deep with the pointy end up. Mulch with 6 inches of wood chips, shredded leaves, or straw to ensure the bulbs will survive the winter.In the spring after the threat of frost has passed, push aside some of the mulch.As the earth warms, watch for emerging shoots. Garlic is a heavy feeder, so side dress each row with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer in early spring and again in early May.Water, if necessary, through June and keep the rows well weeded. Once formed, remove the twisted tear-shaped flower heads (scapes) so that the plant puts more energy into growing a bigger bulb. Don't throw them in the compost bin, but enjoy their fresh, delicate, mild garlic taste in some of your favorite recipes.By mid to late July, the garlic stalks will begin to turn brown and die back, which is a signal that it is time to harvest.Using a spade or garden fork, gently lift the bulbs with their stalks and brush off the soil. Allow the plants to cure for two weeks in a dry, shady spot with good air circulation.They can be stored once the roots and papery coverings are dry. Trim off the dried stalks and roots and move them to a dark, cool, dry space where they will keep for several months.Don't forget to save the largest bulbs to plant again in the fall.Plant garlic now for a bountiful 2020 harvest.Mary Reefer is a Penn State Extension Master Gardener in Butler County.

Mary Reefer is a Master Gardener who lives and gardens Butler. She volunteers her time and knowledge to answer questions at the Master Gardener Greenline. In her spare time, she enjoys drawing botanical illustrations.submitted photo

Set the clove into the amended soil with equal spacing between each clove, then cover with a 6-inch cover of wood chips.

Garlic bulbs are ready for winter with a six inch cover of wood chips.