Garlic

Home grown garlic hanging in the basement stairway gives me a warm, satisfied feeling of accomplishment.  For me the process lacked the perfection I would have liked. I did not keep the area weeded as well I think I should have. At the end of the growing season I have raised garlic and it is hanging to use. That for this year is going to be what counts.

In todays post, I am going to share what process I followed.  I intend to improve on it next year and learn more.  I am going to look into different varieties.  This was last years plot of garlic after planting.

Plant in October or November or before the ground freezes. Dig a shallow trench to place the garlic cloves in.

One clove will develop into a bulb of garlic.

I cover the ground with hay chaff after planting. This helps slow weeds and give a winter ground cover.  The garlic will send up shoots late winter/early spring.  The cold does not hurt the garlic.

I like to add another layer or two of chaff in springtime and again in early summer to help reduce the weeds. This will decompose and add to the soil fertility.  It also helps retain moisture.

Sometime in July a bulb appeared on the top of the stem.  Ideally, the stem is removed before the stem curves over at the top.  I was late this year.

There are seeds in the bulb that have a distinct garlic smell.  Another year I am going to save the seeds and see what happens when I plant them.  I want to satisfy my curiosity to see if I can.

No harm done though and as soon as the bottom four leaves have turned brown it is time to harvest the garlic.  Hanging the plants allows the oil to run down into the bulbs.  They are grouped by variety, Music, Montana and German.

I picked the largest, nicest looking bulbs to plant from for next years crop.

Prepping the ground before planting took the most time.   Using garlic from this years crop I more than doubled the amount of bulbs I planted.  One growing cycle completed.  Lets see what the next one brings!

I want to give a huge thank you to Carma Kelly of Kelly Creek Gardens for guiding me through the first year of growing garlic.  She promptly answered my questions when they arose.  If you are local to Centreville, MI be sure to look her up for garlic, flowers and other green house finds. Not local? Check out her website for more garlic info.