Garlic is planted in autumn and harvested the following summer, making it one of the most satisfying crops. A handful of good-quality seed garlic planted in fall yields many heads the following year, and you can always save your best heads to replant.
Method
- Order certified seed garlic in mid-summer for autumn planting. Choose a hardneck variety for best flavor and medicinal value.
- Prepare the bed in early autumn: dig in 2 inches of compost, a light dusting of bone meal, and some wood ash.
- Break bulbs into cloves just before planting. Leave the papery skin on.
- Plant cloves 6 inches apart, 2 inches deep, pointed end up.
- Mulch heavily with straw after first hard freeze. The mulch protects over winter.
- In spring, remove mulch as green shoots emerge. Remove any scapes (curling flower stalks) in early summer on hardneck varieties — this directs energy to the bulb.
- Harvest when lower leaves turn brown but 5–6 green leaves remain (each leaf = a layer of wrapper).
- Cure in a shady, well-ventilated space for 3–4 weeks before storing.
Tips & Notes
- Save your 10 biggest, healthiest heads each year for replanting. Garlic adapts to your soil over generations.
- Garlic scape pesto is one of summer's greatest treats. Never waste the scapes.
#garlic#alliums#autumn planting#heirloom#medicinal
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