Stop Buying Garlic – Here’s The Best Way To Grow An Endless Supply Right At Home
Growing garlic at home can be a rewarding and costeffective way to ensure a steady supply of this versatile and flavorful ingredient. Heres a stepbystep guide to help you grow an endless supply of garlic right in your own garden
Selecting Garlic Bulbs
Start by choosing healthy garlic bulbs or seed garlic from a reputable supplier or your local garden center. Avoid using garlic from the grocery store as it may be treated with chemicals to prevent sprouting.
Preparing the Soil
Planting Garlic
Plant garlic in the fall a few weeks before the first frost in your area. This will give the garlic bulbs enough time to develop roots before winter dormancy. Separate the individual cloves from the garlic bulb but keep the papery skin intact. Plant each clove about 2 inches deep with the pointed end facing upward and spaced about 6 to 8 inches apart in rows.
After planting cover the garlic bed with a layer of organic mulch like straw or leaves to protect the cloves during the winter and suppress weed growth.
Watering
Garlic needs consistent moisture especially during its growing period in the spring. Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Avoid overhead watering as it can increase the risk of fungal diseases.
Fertilization
Garlic is a moderate feeder so it benefits from a balanced fertilizer application. You can use a generalpurpose organic fertilizer or compost once or twice during its growth cycle. Avoid using highnitrogen fertilizers as they can promote excessive foliage growth at the expense of bulb development.
Garlic plants may produce curly flower stalks called scapes. Removing
these scapes helps direct more energy towards bulb development. You can use the scapes in cooking as they have a milder garlic flavor.
Harvesting
Garlic is typically ready for harvest in late spring to early summer once the lower leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out. Carefully dig up the bulbs using a garden fork taking care not to damage them. Shake off excess soil and let the bulbs cure in a wellventilated dry place for a few weeks.
After curing trim the roots and cut back the foliage leaving about an inch of stem. Store the garlic bulbs in a cool dry and wellventilated area. Save the largest and healthiest bulbs for replanting in the next season.
By following these steps you can enjoy an endless supply of homegrown garlic to use in your favorite recipes and stop buying it from the store. Plus growing garlic is a fantastic way to connect with nature and experience the joy of cultivating your own food.
