Lets talk GARLIC!!!

[3lilbubs]

I want to plant some this fall, and seed savers is taking orders for Aug 1rst. Problem is that I don't know much about it. I grew a little bit from cloves last year but they didn't do super well. Do you go for soft or hard neck? Have a favorite type and do you grow from seed?

[Geckmumto3]

DH's uncle has always grown garlic on our property; before it was ours, it was MIL's. Garlic does well here, and there is more space for his garlic obsession. Since moving in we joined him and the garlic just keeps growing and getting better.

We grow hardneck from cloves. It is easier for us to grow, does well here and, from what I understand, grows bigger cloves. Uncle grew a heritage variety he purchased at a garlic festival two summers ago. Previous to that he had been growing the same strain for a few years, but a wet season caused him to lose most of it on his plot. Ours is Music II, which we purchased based on harvest from a CSA. We bought 10 lbs of bulbs, which was about a plastic grocery bag full. When we peeled it all, we planted 300 cloves (we ate a lot of it, too... ). We have had offers from a local who sells at a farmer's market to buy some, but we will replant a lot and take him up on his offer next summer, perhaps.

We find garlic to be very low maintenance. Once it starts, it is easy to hoe the rows, trim the scapes and watch grow. It tends to help keep some pests out of the garden. There is a nematode that can destroy your crop-- it eats the roots, thus limiting the growth of the bulb and cloves. We thought we had some early this season, but all was good.

Our soil is rich (used to be a horse pasture and manure piles), but very rocky, so it is not perfect. My recommendation would be to go buy some great garlic from a local grower. Check out the farmer's markets, CSA's, etc... and buy something that this known to grow in your area and conditions. Start with what you like, and if it does well, you can just keep growing it from your own garlic.

[bluecandi]

What conditions are best for growing garlic? I am interested in planting just a bit for personal use.

[chloecat]

i want to plant some too!! i live in southern pa and was wondering if i should plant this fall or wait til spring?? i've never done garlic before. we are in zone 6

[reneaumommy]

I bought some elephant garlic cloves and planted them in the spring. The green part is sticking up about a foot out of the ground. Now what do I do? lol How do I know when to dig it up? I have no clue so I have left it alone.

[Geckmumto3]

We always plant in the fall, usually in early October. Generally we harvest at the end of July, but this year it was ready early.

reneaumommy- did you get scapes? The flower that grows on a long curly stalk out the middle of the greens? Generally, we try to cut those off before they flower, because, the theory is that, more energy is directed to the bulb, vs the flower, and the garlic generally tastes better. We generally harvest when the leaves start browning a little on the edges and drooping, LOL... DH pulls one or two, looks at it, says, "Looks good!" and we harvest. So, try to pull one and see what it looks like.

[igotmywings]

hmm im going to have to do some research I think we are in zone 9 if i remember correctly. I would LOVE to have fresh garlic..hmm...

[ecbcmomma]

Originally Posted by reneaumommy I bought some elephant garlic cloves and planted them in the spring. The green part is sticking up about a foot out of the ground. Now what do I do? lol How do I know when to dig it up? I have no clue so I have left it alone.

I just harvested my garlic this weekend! The only way I could tell was the plant turned brown, and the seed started dropping from the flower . I gave it a small tug and the whole thing just popped out!

[Chefconnie]

Plant in the fall, cover the bed with leaves, in the Spring it will pop up through the leaves, then you can take the leaves off and put them in your compost. I order through garlic farms on line. You have to order now or there won't be any good varieties left.

Last year I ordered a sample package so I could figure out what I like. Problem is I like it all.

You harvest when you only have 5 green leaves left, all the others are brown. I live in Indiana and I finished my harvest last weekend.

I cut the scapes off and made scape pesto. I froze some in ice cube trays, then popped them out and put them in a freezer bag. It was yummy, and will be nice to have a taste of summer this winter.

[Geckmumto3]

Originally Posted by Chefconnie Plant in the fall, cover the bed with leaves, in the Spring it will pop up through the leaves, then you can take the leaves off and put them in your compost. I order through garlic farms on line. You have to order now or there won't be any good varieties left. Last year I ordered a sample package so I could figure out what I like. Problem is I like it all. You harvest when you only have 5 green leaves left, all the others are brown. I live in Indiana and I finished my harvest last weekend. I cut the scapes off and made scape pesto. I froze some in ice cube trays, then popped them out and put them in a freezer bag. It was yummy, and will be nice to have a taste of summer this winter.

I will suggest not to cover with leaves. Often, the nematode who eats the roots of garlic is living in the leaves, among other possible parasites.

Scape pesto is AWESOME. Yum. I also chop the scapes into inch or so pieces, blanch and flash freeze to add freshness to soups in the winter. Lots of uses for scapes.