It’s garlic planting time!
Did you know there are two types of garlic? While softneck garlic typically has a greater number of smaller cloves, Trellis grows hardneck garlic because it is cold-hardy, has a high number of varieties, typically has more intense flavor, and yields larger cloves. Plus, hardneck garlic gives the early summer gift of garlic scapes.
To plant your own garlic, purchase organic garlic from your favorite farmer. Store-bought garlic is often treated and will not grow as well as locally sourced cloves. Find a sunny area with rich, well-drained soil. When ready to plant, separate cloves from the garlic head leaving as much of the peel on. Plant cloves 6-8″ apart and 2″ deep with the pointy end up. Cover your future garlic in soil and a heavy layer of mulch—straw or leaves work great here—to protect them over the winter.
It’s important to plant your garlic before the ground freezes. Mid-October to mid-November is a great window for eastern Pennsylvania because the soil is still warm enough to stimulate root growth but the temperatures are low enough that the garlic won’t sprout too soon. Your garlic will grow roots over the winter and sprout through the mulch in early spring. By June, your plants will send out a scape. Your bulbs will be ready to harvest by July after at least 50% of the leaves have turned yellow. Depending on drought conditions, you may want to occasionally water your garlic.
Garlic is an easy-to-grow and very rewarding crop for home gardeners. We hope you’ll give it a try this year!
