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Garlic growing requires the right climate and soil. There are three main groups of garlic, but we will be focusing on white garlic.

How well garlic grows for you will depend on the area where you live. Garlic is grown from Central America to New York. Garlic from New York is purple, while garlic from California is silver.

Preparing the soil for your garlic:

The pH should be 6.5, unless there is limestone in the soil. The soil should be well drained and very fertile. Most soils, on a monthly basis, need to be limed. Compost is necessary and needs to be well rotted to provide the most benefits or the plant.

The best time to plant:

Planting garlic is a long term thing. In warm climates the garlic can be planted in early winter. For several weeks, these plants will lie dormant. The winter planting should be done to establish roots and shoots that will later bud. The side buds will turn into garlic cloves as spring sets in. Poor root growth and wet soil conditions can come from planting in early spring. If you live in an area of mild temperatures, you can plant in autumn. With heavy mulching, the plants will have a root system and a small growth above ground and can withstand the cold. In the spring, the mulch should be removed.

How should I plant garlic?

Garlic is planted like all other bulb plants. The biggest end is the bottom and the biggest clove seeds are used and placed in the ground so they are standing upright. They should have four inch spaces between them and covered with an inch of dirt.

Growing successfully:

Garlic is a difficult plant to successfully home garden. Poor seed cloves, weather, soil, and diseases are all obstacles you must face. It is severely important to have the best drainage possible. Commercially grown garlic seeds are treated before planting which is something a home gardener cannot do. Home gardeners who live in colder regions will have a better change at a successful crop especially if the seed cloves are commercially treated and if the soil is heavily treated prior to planting with extremely good drainage. Though moisture is a big problem for garlic, during dry periods they must be well watered. Be sure to consult an expert to be sure you are using the correct variety for your planting. Once harvested, the bulbs should be stored in a dry, well ventilated place at a temperate of about 50 degrees F.

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