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Planting Garlic

10/16/2014

 
PictureI even got organic garlic bulbs for my birthday! And a garlic slicer. Thanks Mom!!!
You know what fall means... crunchy leaves, pumpkin muffins, apple picking and garlic planting. And did you know?!....garlic is actually a vegetable. A delicious vegetable that you need for almost every savory recipe. And the jarred or freeze dried stuff just isn't the same as fresh, now is it? Okay in a pinch but not ideal. Best of all garlic is super easy to grow and requires very little space. 

You don't want to miss out harvesting next summer so you should plant now if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8. Garlic loves full sun and loamy, crumbly soil with a slight acidic to neutral PH. 
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This will be my first year planting garlic. Last year, I got so wrapped up in my Halloween costume that I forgot to plant. [Tom has once again refused to wear the banana costume which I find unreasonable]. And then summer came and I had zilch. So this year I vowed to do better. Since I'm new at it, I had to do a lot of research. 

So yes, here's another infomercial for raised bed gardening. Garlic loves raised beds because of its fertile, well-drained soil. No stones. No clay soil. Yes compost. Yes manure. Yes fertilizer. 10-10-10 please!

So to get started, all you need to do is buy garlic bulbs, preferably from a roadside stand or farmers market. You can also order from a seed company or check out your local garden center. This part is vital! The garlic bulbs need to be fresh and high quality and if at all possible, organic. Unless you're desperate, don't use pesticide sprayed grocery store garlic. Another downside? Grocery store garlic bulbs are treated to make their shelf life longer, making them harder to grow. 

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Each bulb is made up of several sections called cloves, held together by a thin, papery covering. Before planting, break cloves apart. Garlic is grown by planting these individual cloves. Each clove will multiply in the ground forming its own bulb of 5-10 cloves. 

And remember: Larger cloves = bigger garlic = larger crop. Don't use squishy or soft garlic either. 

Don't damage cloves at their base. If the base is damaged, garlic will not grow!

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We've been drying our cloves in this box since summer and now they're ready to plant! It's important to keep the bulbs or cloves you intend to plant in a cool [40 degrees], airy place free of moisture or pests. We stored ours in the garage as our basement is too moist. Drying the bulbs also supposedly increases the flavor! Yay. 

How-to Plant
Separate the cloves from the bulb several days before planting. Keep the papery husk on each clove. Each clove should sprout into a garlic plant. This should help you gauge how many bulbs to buy. Your goal is to plant about one month before the ground freezes wherever you live. In Southern areas, February or March may be your best time to plant. 

Place cloves 4 inches apart and 2 inches deep in an upright position. Rows should be spaced one foot apart. Plant the cloves with the pointy end up and the blunt end or wide root side down. [That came out a little weird].
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See the pointy tip on top? Make sure that tip is upright when you plant.
After you plant, you'll want to lay down a protective layer of mulch (4-6 inches thick) that could include straw, chopped leaves or grass clippings. I love the chopped leaves/grass clippings option because they're already in my yard and I can just chuck them in my garden. No need to leave the house! And they're free. The mulch keeps the rather shallow planted garlic from being pushed out of the ground in colder climates where we get the alternating freezing and thawing cycle. But if you live someplace warmer than Buffalo, the mulch will help keep winter weeds at bay. 

Another tip? Newly planted garlic needs to be kept moist so the roots can develop. But just moist. Don't overwater or your planted cloves will just rot on you. 

In the spring, when the ground warms up due to warmer temperatures, shoots will emerge from the ground. But I'll save that blog for spring. Until then, enjoy planting! Are you a garlic fan? 
28 Comments
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy link
10/16/2014 12:58:50 am

We haven't grown our own garlic yet, but it is something we are going to do when we next start planting stuff. We use so much garlic in our cooking.

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Tony
10/16/2014 02:16:14 am

I had no idea that garlic was so easy to grow! I'm an Italian and put garlic in almost every pasta dish. I'm sure it tastes better as well.

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Laura
10/23/2014 01:30:34 am

Thanks for stopping by Tony. You will love fresh garlic. Promise.

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Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice link
10/16/2014 03:42:41 am

I'm shaking in my head in the fact that I've never even thought to plant garlic! I go through so much garlic in my house (it's my favorite seasoning) that planting garlic should be a no-brainer for me! And I love that you can plant this now, too. Thanks so much for the tips, Laura! So informative!

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Laura
10/23/2014 01:37:06 am

Thanks so much Gayle, my favorite seasoning too, other than rosemary.

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lori @ The HealthMinded.com link
10/16/2014 07:57:22 am

How neat!! WIsh I had more sun to grow it, but I love this post anyway. Garlic is so good for you and especially great for our immune system and makes our food taste so good. I love to roast it, too, to mellow the flavor a bit. I bet the "fresh right from your yard" tastes fantastic!

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Laura
10/23/2014 01:31:18 am

Agreed....so good for your immune system. And my needs all the natural help it can get!!

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Mira link
10/16/2014 10:20:56 am

I haven't grown my own garlic, but now I feel I should. It sounds so easy and I love using garlic in my dishes. Thanks for the wonderful tips Laura!

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Laura
10/23/2014 01:31:58 am

Thanks for stopping by....still loving those truffle balls. Yum!

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Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine link
10/16/2014 12:07:33 pm

When I read your blog, I get so impatient for the day I get to move back to the States.. and have things like a garden, a dog, and home grown garlic! Yum.

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Kathy @ Olives & Garlic link
10/16/2014 02:59:16 pm

Wow I actually learned a lot and am now contemplating on planting some garlic. I love garlic.

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Laura
10/23/2014 01:33:08 am

Maybe keep it simple and plant in a pot? Then you won't loose track of where you planted it =)

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Isadora link
10/16/2014 05:36:07 pm

Wow, I guess I had never really thought about it before, but I had no idea garlic was considered a vegetable! With the way I go through garlic I really should start planting some soon!

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Laura
10/23/2014 01:32:35 am

I know! I use at least one bulb a day if not two! Put it in everything.

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Samantha
10/17/2014 12:57:10 am

Garlic fan? Who's not? A little bit of garlic adds so much to any dish.

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Cheryl Barker link
10/17/2014 01:52:56 am

Hi Laura, I came over from Pioneer Woman. Am trying to visit new-to-me blogs from time to time, and today you're my new visit! :) I'm not a gardener, but my daughter is giving it a try with a raised bed. Enjoy the rest of the fall season!

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Laura
10/17/2014 02:17:13 am

Hi Cheryl, thanks for swinging by, I was getting lonely here, Ha. your daughter will love her raised bed. And don't you just love the Pioneer Woman? Her recipes are awesome, I actually make them!

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helen@scrummylane.com link
10/17/2014 10:23:06 pm

I learn so much from your site, Laura! I had the pleasure of being given some home-grown garlic last year in Australia and it was quite possibly the best garlic I'd ever had. I'd love to grow some of my own. I know I always say this, but I'll definitely be back here as soon as I've got a garden to plant some in!

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Laura
10/23/2014 01:34:32 am

Haha, thanks so much for the kind words. Making that tomato soup hopefully today. Gotta check what groceries I need, blah.

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Tandy | Lavender and Lime link
10/18/2014 02:28:12 am

Planting my own garlic has been on my list for years. I have wild garlic in my garden always as it deters snakes and we have lots of those where we live!

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Laura
10/23/2014 01:33:38 am

Garlic has so many uses, doesn't it =)

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Kari Peters link
10/18/2014 06:42:58 am

I like to plant my garlic in and around other plants because it helps to deter pests! Great how-to post! :)

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Laura
10/23/2014 01:35:11 am

It's the best pest control ever! I love how it doesn't have to be sprayed and is organic =)

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~ Carmen ~ link
10/20/2014 07:53:49 am

Thanks for this! I just planted an onion bulb so I'm seeing how that goes. Garlic looks pretty fruitful vegetable to plant-- pun intended. :] // <b><i><a href="http://www.itscarmen.com">itsCarmen.com ☼ ☯ </a></b></i>

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Laura
10/23/2014 01:35:44 am

Ha! Thanks for stopping by Carmen.

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Ashley link
10/20/2014 10:42:31 am

Planting garlic has never even crossed my mind before - which is silly considering how much garlic we use! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!!

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Laura
10/23/2014 01:36:23 am

You could always do the pot method! Hmmm, that came out all wrong.

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Tandy | Lavender and Lime link
2/17/2015 03:07:26 pm

We have wild garlic in our garden but I must plant ordinary garlic this year :)

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    Hi, I'm Laura and hail from Western New York. I consider myself a lifelong learner who loves gardening with a 360 degree view. Thanks for stopping by!
    Laura Sproull

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