Garlic, much like onion, is a frequently used vegetable in cooking right around the world. It has great health benefits and is often used to aid problems with the digestive tract.
Garlic can be grown from seeds or from bulbs. Some bulbs are treated so that they are sterile, so the garlic you get at your local supermarket or greengrocer may not actually be appropriate. Often you can pick up untreated garlic at organic shops.
Planting Garlic
Before planting, use rotted organic matter to treat the earth. 6.5 is a good pH to keep the soil at. It generally doesn’t need any other fertilizer.
Garlic is grown most easily from a single clove. You can plant them about 2 inches (5cm) deep, 6 inches (15cm) apart in rows 12 inches (30cm) apart. The clove should be vertical so that the pointy tip of the clove is at the top and the flat part at the bottom.
If you want lots of garlic, a cool, sunny patch of earth is the best. Otherwise you can grow garlic in pots or containers.
notice the flat part on the right and the tip on the left
Growing Garlic
Garlic is easy to grow. It loves the cold weather, so it’s generally a good idea to plant it in late autumn or early winter. It doesn’t love particularly wet climates, though. Be careful not to over-water it.
If you growing garlic in containers or pots, be sure to place them in a sunny position and water regularly.
Harvesting Garlic
Garlic takes around 4 to 5 months to reach maturity. When the leaves begin to yellow is a good indicator that it’s time to harvest.
Use a fork to dig around the bulbs and lift gently out with your hands. Garlic is not the sort of plant that enjoys spending too much time in the soil, so you should aim to get them out as soon as possible after they start to yellow.
Store the harvested garlic in dry conditions. You can leave it out in the sun for a few weeks to dry out, or else store it inside in a dry place like a garage. They can be placed in string bags or stockings for easy storage.
Threats to Garlic
Garlic suffers from the same problems that affect onion. Click here to check them out.