It’s Garlic Planting Time
Krystl Philyaw, Grayson County Master Gardener
It is mid-October, and here in North Texas, it is time to plant garlic. The bulbs will grow in a wide range of soil types and pH ranges. As with anything you grow underground, your soil needs to have some tilth or fluff to it. If the soil is too compacted, the bulb will have a difficult time forming. You also need patience to grow garlic. The cloves you plant now will not be ready to harvest until May or June of next year. It is a long time, but garlic is one of the easiest herbs to grow, requiring minimal effort on your part.
There are two different varieties of garlic, hardneck and softneck. The hardneck is typically grown in the north and softneck in the south. As you can see from the picture, they each form a different type of bulb. Hardnecks have fewer but larger cloves than softnecks. Another difference is hardnecks will produce a garlic scape. The scape is an edible central stalk that grows up from the underground bulb. It can be harvested and used in a variety of recipes. You want to cut the scapes; leaving them in place will diminish the underground bulb’s growth. If you choose to grow hardnecks, you get two harvests from one planting. The disadvantage of hardnecks is the bulbs have a shorter storage life after harvest. Softnecks typically are what you find in the grocery stores around here.
Garlic Scape
I grow garlic in raised beds. I cannot speak about if garlic can be grown in containers. My guess is it would not be difficult given enough space to allow the bulb to mature. Many resources recommend buying “seed” garlic due to the possibility that growth inhibitors get applied to store-bought garlic. Store-bought potatoes are said to have been sprayed or dipped too, but I bet you have had one or two potatoes to sprout in your cabinet. I started three years ago with three bulbs of store-bought garlic. Each year after harvest, I choose the largest, best-looking bulbs to save for planting the next season. If you want to try different types, go ahead and purchase “seed” garlic. If you are only experimenting or want simple cooking garlic, head to the local grocery and pick up 2-3 bulbs. Pick a sunny spot in the garden that you have added 1”-2” compost and that you are willing to give up for the next 8-9 months. Also, do not plant garlic where you planted onions in the spring. Break the bulb into cloves, leaving the skin on them. Insert the clove 2”-3” deep into the soil with the pointed end up and cover the hole. Continue inserting cloves, leaving 4”-6” between the “seeds” in each direction. The spacing is dependent on the size of your original bulb. Each planted clove should grow to the size of that original bulb. Water well and keep moist, but not soggy. Soon small green shoots will appear. If you do not receive supplemental rain, add water if the soil is dry below 1”. Sit back and wait until the tops begin to turn brown and fall over late next spring or early summer.
When the tops turn and begin to fall, gently pull the bulbs up. Let them cure in a shady spot, out of direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks. Once fully dry, trim the tops and roots. Trim the stalk where it naturally bends above the bulb. If the stem is still stiff, let the bulb dry longer. Store trimmed bulbs in a cool, dry, dark place. Warmth and sunlight will cause the bulbs to sprout.
It is easy to grow garlic. Prepare your garden spot and buy some bulbs. The best time is now to plant. Enjoy.
Grayson County Master Gardeners Association is a non-profit 501( c)(3) organization sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Reach us by email at mastergardeners@co.grayson.tx.us, by phone at 903-813-4204, or our web page txmg.org/grayson, or our Facebook group.