You can purchase seed garlic from your local garden centre or farmers market. You can even plant the garlic you buy from the grocery store as long as it was also grown locally. Avoid grocery store garlic that has been shipped overseas. You want to make sure the garlic you are planting can withstand your climate.
Garlic is usually planted in the fall, typically in September or October. Fall planting allows the garlic cloves to establish roots and develop during the winter months. The cold temperatures are essential for bulb formation. It is a good idea to check your first frost date, and get your seed garlic in the ground late autumn.
Choose your varieties of garlic: Choose the garlic varieties that are best suited to your local climate and culinary preferences. There are hardneck and softneck garlic varieties, each with its own characteristics.
Purchase garlic bulbs: Purchase garlic seed bulbs from a reputable nursery or use cloves from garlic bulbs you’ve bought from the grocery store. Ensure that the cloves are firm and healthy.
Prepare your garden: Choose sunny location with well-drained soil. Garlic prefers soil with good organic matter and a slightly acidic to neutral pH (around 6.0 to 7.0). Remove any weeds or debris from the planting area, add in some natural compost, and prepare the soil by loosening it with a fork or tiller.
Prepare the garlic cloves: Carefully separate the garlic cloves from the bulb without damaging them. You want to keep the papery skins on the clove. This acts as a barrier and protects the clove from mold, pests and disease.
Plant the garlic cloves: Plant each clove about 2-4 inches deep with the pointed end facing up. Spacing them 4-6 inches apart in rows that are 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. Cover the cloves with soil and press it down gently.
When spring arrives, and the snow melts and the ground warms up, you’ll see green garlic sprouts emerge from the mulch you laid last year. Visit therootedfarmhouse.com for spring garlic care and harvesting