Zones For Planting Garlic In Fall:
Garlic grows well in cold climate zones including parts of Alaska. Here is a guide for planting your garlic. Zone 3-5: Plant garlic in late September to early October. Zones 5-7: Plant in middle to late October. Zones 7-9: Plant in late October to November. In most regions fall is the perfect time to plant your garlic, hardneck garlic is best planted in cold climates, late September to early November, before the first frost and before the ground freezes. When garlic is planted in the fall it gives the garlic bulb a head start in establishing strong roots before the ground freezes. You also have fewer issues with pest and disease, pest are less active in the fall months, so this reduces the risk of infestation, plus fall planting gives you early harvest in the summer. When hardneck garlic starts to develops it forms a stiff stalk in the center of the bulb called a scape, not only are scape’s edible but also delicious and have a sweeter taste when used in cooking. Garlic is easy to grow in your garden or in your raised beds. You can also grow garlic in containers but make sure the container is at least 30 gallons (150 liters) and is well insulated with straw, leaves, or a insulated blanket. Garlic should be planted in a rich well drained soil, that is loosen and not compacted. Once your garlic begins it’s spring growth, and the leaves have started forming you can start to fertilize every other week, and water as needed. Keep weeded and when scape’s starts to curl this is the time to remove your scape’s this way the garlic uses its energy in the bulb development. When the plant is about 75% dried it is ready to be pulled up.
Planting Garlic: Step by Step
Step 1: Buy your seed garlic, can be purchased online or at farmers markets.
Step 2: Break your bulbs up into single cloves leave skins on.
Step 3: Loosen up the soil in your garden bed before planting.
Step 4: Level off your garden bed with a rake.
Step 5: Begin making holes 4 inches deep
Step 6: Space your holes about 4 to 6 inches apart from each other so they have room to develop bigger bulbs.
Step 7: Place your garlic clove pointy side up.
Step 8: Cover with soil and manure.
Step 9: Then cover your bed with straw or wet leaves to keep moisture in when the green leaves come up in the spring you can start to fertilize with Miracle-Grow Organics Blood Meal
Your garlic will be ready in mid summer, once harvested hang garlic to cure for two to three weeks. Hang in a shaded well ventilated area. This allows the moisture to escape and gets the garlic ready for storage. Remember to always save some garlic bulbs to plant in fall again so you don’t have to buy the seeds and you have a never ending supply of garlic.
