Need advice on growing garlic

[thistlebloom]

I've never grown garlic before but I would like to this year.
So, can it go in at the same time as onions? (I'm assuming so?)
If I plant a bulb from the grocery store will it be worth it , or should I get one from a seed company?
How do I tell when it's ready to harvest? (this is what has kept me from ever growing it, I know, how silly!. But I must have read something at some point in the past that made it seem mysterious).
Thanks guys!
Oh yeah, I guess it would help if you knew my zone I'm technically zone 5 but have
a micro climate of 4ish.

 

[chris09]

Here is some information on growing Garlic.

http://www.garlicfarm.ca/growing-garlic.htm
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1627.html
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/Growing-Garlic.aspx

Chris

 

[vfem]

You definitely want to try those links, good info! Here in the south its completely different because of our lack of cool days for them to grow to good size bulbs. You should have plenty of time until it gets too hot!

 

[lesa]

I am in zone 4. Planting a successful garlic crop is ridiculously easy!! In the fall you plant the bulbs- cover with straw. In the spring you uncover. Like magic you will start to see the greens. Looks a lot like onions. When about 1/3rd of the leaves fall and dry, you harvest. Generally late summer, early fall.
You need to keep them weeded, especially when they first start growing in the spring. If you just want a small experiment- try an organic clove from the grocery. Don't feel bad about buying them from a seed company though. You should only have to do it once- my entire crop (about 40 foot row) I planted from my own harvested garlic...
You do need to dry the garlic with the tops on (if you are planning on storing it). Mine is in the basement right now, still looking beautiful and tasting great!!!
Happy Garlic Growing!

 

[thistlebloom]

Thanks for the links chris, I printed out the Canadian one . I guess I should wait until fall, but I may give it a try early spring, just to get my feet wet.
Anybody have variety recommendations?

 

[thistlebloom]

I am in zone 4. Planting a successful garlic crop is ridiculously easy!! In the fall you plant the bulbs- cover with straw. In the spring you uncover. Like magic you will start to see the greens. Looks a lot like onions. When about 1/3rd of the leaves fall and dry, you harvest. Generally late summer, early fall.
You need to keep them weeded, especially when they first start growing in the spring. If you just want a small experiment- try an organic clove from the grocery. Don't feel bad about buying them from a seed company though. You should only have to do it once- my entire crop (about 40 foot row) I planted from my own harvested garlic...
You do need to dry the garlic with the tops on (if you are planning on storing it). Mine is in the basement right now, still looking beautiful and tasting great!!!
Happy Garlic Growing!

Oh thanks Lesa, (now thats weird, you posted at 12:15 , and I posted at 12:25, but your post wasn't up when I started my reply ...hmmm..)
Well that's encouraging, I've had this mental block for years about growing it but I'm definitely doing it this year. Wow , a 40 ft row? That sounds like a ton of garlic, you're not worried about vampires are you? Do you replant every year from your own cloves?
edited to say- Oh, duh , you mentioned that you replant from your own cloves (!) ....it's ADD...

 

[Collector]

They are selling garlic at home depot in our area now. DW bought a package at the Spokane valley store last weekend. There were 4 large bulbs in the package, it cost $3.99. Also had yellow onion bulbs 80 per package for $1.99. We were going to try it also if it doesn't pan out we've only invested $3.99 plus tax.

 

[Ariel301]

I don't buy seed garlic, I plant the stuff from the grocery store, since it is cheaper. It grows fine for me and tastes good. If you're concerned about chemicals, you could buy organic garlic bulbs at a health food store.I buy the whole bulbs, then break them up and plant them in the fall/winter (we have mild winters), and they will grow all winter and be ready to harvest about June. I sort of dig gently around mine and see how big the bulbs are, when they look big enough, I pull them up, and if they are still too small, I just pack the dirt back around where I dug and wait a while longer.

 

[lesa]

It is a lot of garlic. I am trying to be as SS as I can. I think that amount of garlic will take me all the way to next season. I'll keep you posted...The thing I noticed is that if you have enough food for the winter- you still have a couple months before harvest time, rolls around again...So, I planted extra!
The first year I planted garlic the chickens got in the garden and dug most of the cloves up. I reburied them when I noticed them laying on the ground. I might have lost a couple, but most of them were fine. Don't worry about garlic- it is easy!!

 

[HunkieDorie23]

I am growing garlic for the first time this year. I wanted to do it last year but had to wait till fall to plant. I didn't get all of it in because we got suddenly cold this fall so I have two varieties I am growing in my basement in containers. I planted 10 different varieties because the place that I ordered, www.wegrowgarlic.com, has over 100 varieties and who call pick from that. I am growing some hard neck and some soft neck, some big with few cloves, some that have a lot of cloves that you can braid. Garlic is awesome. I recommend the site, it is loaded with info. Good luck.

PS. The stuff in my basement is growing great. It sprouted and is about 18" high. I just water it once a week and let it go. I am hoping to move it outside once the weather is warmer. I don't know when it will be ready but I am hoping sooner the July.