Garlic Growing Tips
Planting Time
- Plant as early in September as possible (mimics what happens in nature); Develops a strong root system before winter.
- Separate cloves no more than 1 week before planting.
- If suspect of mites (Fusarium or Botrytis), soak cloves for 30 minutes (helps reduce disease/pests): 5% hydrogen peroxide + 2 tbsp of dish soap/gallon (or + 1c apple cider vinegar/gallon)
Soil and Bed Preparation
- Garlic prefers well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
- Use raised beds (about 4″ [10cm] high) to prevent water-logging and compaction.
- Full sun is essential for strong growth.
- Prepare soil in summer or fall with balanced fertilizers containing Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur.
- Maintain balanced micro and macro nutrients to avoid deficiencies (Liebig’s Law of the Minimum).
Planting Depth and Spacing
- Plant cloves root plate down, about 2” [5 cm] deep.
- Garden planting: space cloves 4-5” [10-12.5 cm] apart in rows 12-14” [30-35.5 cm] apart.
- Field/commercial planting: even spacing (3.5-5” [9-12.5 cm] between cloves in-row).
- Row spacing 12-14” [30-35.5 cm] provides optimum sunlight and nutrition for uniform growth.
- There are 2.47 acres/hectare (adjust spacing calculations accordingly).
- The more evenly spaced, the larger and more uniform the bulbs.
Protection from the Elements
- Plant in the lea of windbreaks or apply mulch to protect from harsh winter winds.
- Mulching also helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
Watering
- Garlic needs about 1” of water/week until scapes appear; active growth (root/leaf development).
- Stop watering after removing scapes to allow bulbs to mature and dry (bulb expansion).
- With drip irrigation, introduce micro and macro nutrients; most are absorbed through the roots (80-90%) and the rest through leaves (10-20%).
Plant Nutrition & Care
- If herbicides are used, apply antistress treatments (e.g., Megafol or Plantafol) 2-3 times per season.
- Biological enhancers like Benefit (Valagro) can be applied twice per season to boost bulb size.
- Avoid nutrient imbalance; each element must be present in the right proportion for optimal growth
(biocenosis principle).
Scape (Arrow) Management
- Do not pull the scape out.
- Cut or snap it by hand when it reaches 4-8”[10-20cm] tall.
- Leave a 0.5-1.5” [1-3cm] stub from the top leaf to avoid damaging the plant.
- Scapes are edible; use in cooking or pesto!
Bulb Harvest
- Harvest bulbs when 35% of leaves have died back (about 3 weeks after scape removal).
- Overripe bulbs will split.
- Gently dig bulbs, hang to cure for at least 1 week before storage or use.
- Rain near harvest can stain bulb sheaths, affecting appearance but not flavour.
Garlic should be handled carefully at harvest. Like apples, bulbs that are dropped or banged together can bruise, creating entry points for pathogens and pests attracted to the sugars (brix) released. The length of storage is directly related to gentle handling during and after harvest.
Season/Weather
- Garlic is sensitive to seasonal changes.
- Rainfall near harvest can stain the outer sheathing of bulbs, affecting appearance but not flavour
Curing and Storage
- Keeping stalks attached for up to 3 weeks post-harvest improves storage life and bulb weight.
Nutrients and sugars continue moving from the stalk and leaves into the bulb. This is why garlic has traditionally been braided for storage (both practical and aesthetic).
Planting Stock & Generations
- The closer your planting stock is to its early generations from bulbils, the lower the virus and disease load (Fusarium, Botrytis).
- Generations within 6-8 cycles from bulbils are considered ideal for yield and long-term garlic health.
- The more well-composted manure applied, the larger the bulbs. “Shit happens and it makes things happen!” applies here: rich organic matter consistently improves soil biology and garlic size.
Going to great lengths to protect the garlic seed supply with Warren Ham and Roshan Ghimire of August’s Harvest.
Growing for Market Podcast (Episode 192)