Planting, harvesting, and storing Garlic: a comprehensive guide on how to grow garlic in your backyard.
Garlic is a versatile and popular ingredient in cooking that comes in different types, each with its unique flavor profile and characteristics.
Types of Garlic
There are two main types of garlic: hardneck and softneck.
Hardneck Garlic
Ideal for colder regions, hardneck varieties produce edible scapes. Hardneck garlic has 4-6 large cloves and last for 3-6 months from harvest. Types include Porcelain, Rocambole, Purple Stripe, Asiatic, Turban, and Creole.
Hardneck garlic varieties are known for their strong, robust flavor and are often preferred by culinary enthusiasts for their complex taste.
Softneck Garlic
This type does not develop a scape, thrives better in warmer climates, and each bulb often contains numerous smaller cloves. Softneck garlic, commonly available in grocery stores, is perfect for braiding and can last for up to 10 months. Varieties include Silverskin, Romanian Red, Nootka Rose, Transylvanian, Artichoke, California, and Persian Star.
Softneck garlic, on the other hand, tends to have a milder flavor and a longer shelf life, making it a popular choice for everyday cooking.
How to Grow Garlic
Garlic requires a cold, dormant phase, making autumn the ideal season for planting.
Plant garlic in mid-October, approximately 6 weeks before the ground freezes. This timing allows the garlic cloves to establish roots before the onset of winter, ensuring a strong foundation for growth.
While spring planting is also an option, fall planting is often preferred as it typically results in larger bulbs. The extended period of cold weather during winter dormancy helps garlic develop more robust root systems, leading to healthier and more substantial bulbs when it comes time to harvest. Additionally, fall-planted garlic tends to have a longer growing season, giving it more time to mature and develop its signature pungent flavor.
When planting garlic, it is essential to choose a sunny location with well-draining soil to promote healthy growth.
TIP: Garlic likes nitrogen rich soil. Planting garlic in the spot where you planted a crop that feeds the soil nitrogen, such as beans, will give them an extra boost.
Ensure that the cloves are planted with the pointed end facing up and at a depth of about 2 inches, spaced approximately 6 inches apart. Providing adequate water and mulching the area can help insulate the cloves during winter and encourage strong growth in the spring.
Harvesting & Storing Garlic
Harvesting garlic is a rewarding process that involves carefully digging up the bulbs once the leaves have started to turn yellow and dry out.
For hardneck garlic, snap the curly scapes off once they've circled, great for pestos.
Stop watering a week before pulling bulbs out gently. Softneck varieties can be braided and then cured.
Cure garlic in a dry, cool place for 2-4 weeks, then trim stalks and roots. Properly cure garlic by hanging it in a cool, dry place for 2-4 weeks. This allows it to develop its full flavor and ensures long-term storage.
Storing garlic in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight can help prevent sprouting and maintain its freshness for several months.
Uses for Garlic
Once your garlic reaches 12 inches in height, you can start harvesting the greens to use in salads, soups, and many other dishes. Fresh garlic is amazing!
Mix garlic scapes into butter, whip up a delicious pesto, or add to your favorite dishes for a bit of zing.
Dehydrate the cloves and grind them into garlic powder.
In addition to its culinary uses, garlic has been valued for its medicinal properties for centuries. It is believed to have antibacterial and antiviral properties, making it a popular home remedy for treating colds and other ailments.
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