Garlic Growing Guide for Beginners
Growing your own garlic is not just rewarding—it’s also surprisingly simple. Whether you’re a backyard gardener or an urban farmer looking to expand your harvest, garlic is one of the most beginner-friendly crops to cultivate. In this guide, you’ll learn how to grow flavorful garlic using essential techniques, from planting to long-term storage. By the end, you’ll be equipped to enjoy fresh, homegrown garlic harvests year after year.
Read on to discover how to cultivate this versatile kitchen staple, store it properly, and make the most of your harvest!
Why Grow Garlic?
Garlic isn’t just a flavorful addition to recipes—it’s a robust, low-maintenance crop that generously rewards you for your efforts. Specifically, growing garlic has several key advantages:
- Long Storage Life: When stored properly, garlic can last up to a year, ensuring you have a steady supply until the next harvest.
- Health Benefits: Loaded with nutrients and antioxidants, garlic adds both flavor and wellness to your diet.
- Minimal Space Needed: Garlic doesn’t demand much space, making it perfect for beginner gardeners or anyone with a smaller yard or garden bed.
When you grow garlic yourself, you not only enjoy fresh, aromatic cloves but also support sustainable, chemical-free gardening. And the sense of accomplishment? Priceless.
Choosing the Right Garlic
Before getting started, it’s essential to understand the basics of garlic types. There are two main types:
- Softneck Garlic
- Mild flavor and longer storage life.
- Ideal for braiding due to its soft, flexible stalks.
- Preferred for growing in warmer climates.
- Hardneck Garlic
- Bolder, spicier flavor.
- Produces garlic scapes (edible flower stalks).
- Better suited for growing in colder climates, like the Pacific Northwest where this guide is focused.
Personally, I recommend growing hardneck garlic if you want robust flavor and the bonus of delicious garlic scapes. The instructions in this guide will focus on hardneck varieties.
Pro Tip: Always source your garlic from a reputable supplier, such as Keene Organics. Avoid planting grocery store garlic, as it’s often treated to prevent sprouting and isn’t optimized for gardening.
Step-by-Step Garlic Growing Guide
1. Planting Garlic Cloves
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- When to Plant:
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In the Pacific Northwest (PNW), plant your garlic in the fall (typically late September through October) to allow the cloves to establish roots before winter. This timing ensures a strong harvest by summer. I planted on October 19th 2024.
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- Preparing Your Garden:
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Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Garlic thrives in loose, nutrient-rich soil. Add organic compost or aged manure to enrich your planting bed.
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- How to Space:
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Plant your cloves with the pointed end facing up, about 2 inches deep. Space them roughly 8 cloves per square foot, ensuring they have room to grow. To keep track of different varieties, consider planting each type in separate sections of your garden.
2. Fertilizing and Watering
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- Fertilizing:
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Garlic is a heavy feeder. Use a high nitrogen fertilizer at planting, then reapply every few weeks during the growing season, particularly in spring when the plants are actively growing. I stop fertilizing about 30 days before harvest.
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- Watering:
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Water consistently, keeping the soil evenly moist (but not soggy). However, reduce watering once the bulbs begin to mature in late spring—this encourages drying and prevents rot.
3. Managing Garlic Scapes
A unique feature of hardneck garlic is its scapes—flower stalks that appear in late spring or early summer. You’ll want to cut these off as early as possible to redirect the plant’s energy back into the bulb. The bonus? Scapes are edible and incredibly versatile.
How to Use Scapes in Cooking:
- Chop and sauté with vegetables.
- Blend into pesto for a garlicky punch.
- Grill with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt for a side dish.
4. When and How to Harvest
Garlic is ready to harvest when the bottom three or four leaves turn brown and dry out. This usually happens mid-summer in the PNW. In 2024, I harvested on July 14th.
Here’s how to harvest properly:
- Use a garden fork to gently lift bulbs from the soil. Avoid pulling them out by hand, as this can damage the bulbs.
- Brush off excess soil but leave the papery skin intact.
5. Curing Garlic for Long-Term Storage
Freshly harvested garlic can be eaten immediately, but curing is essential if you plan to store it long-term. Here’s the process I swear by:
- Gather 10–20 bulbs into small bundles and tie their stems together.
- Hang these bundles in a cool, dry place with good air circulation, such as a garage.
- Leave the garlic to cure for 3–4 weeks, until the leaves are dry and papery.
Once cured:
- Trim the stalks to 1–2 inches above the bulb, and cut away any roots.
- Gently brush off remaining dirt but avoid peeling the outer layers.
- Store your garlic in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place, like a basement.
Properly cured garlic can last for 6–12 months!
Preserving and Enjoying Your Garlic
Fresh garlic is incredibly versatile, but you can preserve it even longer with these techniques:
- Honey-Fermented Garlic: Submerge peeled cloves in raw honey and allow them to ferment. This creates a sweet, tangy condiment with endless culinary applications.
- Garlic Salsa: Blend garlic with fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime for a zesty salsa.
- Freezing: Chop garlic and freeze it in oil or butter for quick additions to meals.
Use your creativity! There’s no end to the recipes and preservation methods garlic offers.
Start Growing Your Garlic Today
Growing garlic is a simple yet rewarding venture for any gardener or urban farmer. By following these steps, you’ll be able to produce flavorful, homegrown bulbs that’ll keep your kitchen stocked for months to come.
If you’re considering enhancing your garden with garlic, why not get started this fall? With the right approach, tools, and techniques, your first garlic harvest could be an incredible success. Happy gardening!
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