Garlic — FarmPal
Plant in fall, harvest in summer. Fresh garlic is incomparably better than store-bought.
Sun
full
Water
moderate
Spacing
6 inches apart, rows 12 inches apart
Days to Harvest
240+ days (fall planted, summer harvest)
Planting Depth
2-3 inches deep, pointed end up
Companion Plants
Tomatoes
Peppers
Eggplant
Carrots
Fruit trees
Roses
Avoid Planting Near
Beans
Peas
Strawberries
Asparagus
Common Pests
Onion maggots
Thrips
Nematodes
Bulb mites
Diseases to Watch
White rot
Rust
Fusarium basal rot
Botrytis
Growing Tips
- •Plant 4-6 weeks before ground freezes in fall
- •Use largest cloves for biggest bulbs
- •Mulch heavily (4-6 inches) after ground freezes
- •Remove mulch in early spring as shoots emerge
- •Cut scapes (flower stalks) on hardneck varieties edible and promotes bulb growth
- •Stop watering 2-3 weeks before harvest
Harvesting
- •Harvest when lower 1/3 of leaves have browned
- •Loosen soil with fork before pulling don't yank
- •Cure in warm, dry, shaded area with good airflow for 3-4 weeks
- •Leave roots and tops intact during curing
Storage
Cured garlic stores 6-10 months. Hardneck: 4-6 months. Softneck: 9-12 months.
Varieties
Hardneck Music
Large cloves. Easy to peel. Strong flavor. 4-5 months storage.
Softneck Silverskin
Best for braiding. Longest storage. Many small cloves.
Rocambole
Hardneck. Rich, complex flavor. Easier to peel. Shorter storage.
Elephant Garlic
Actually a leek. Mild flavor. Huge cloves.
Chesnok Red
Beautiful purple striped. Excellent roasted. Hardneck.