Planting Garlic

 This is the first year that we have planted garlic and its exciting to have something growing in the garden during the winter and early spring months.  I have heard that garlic is simple to grow and we decided it was worth trying! In the last post I shared tips on growing garlic and in this post I go further to explain how its planted. 

Tochilavri Garlic

"German White" Garlic is supposed to be an easy garlic to grow if its your first time planting garlic.   It is a very strong variety and easy to peel with a sweet flavor.  It grows well in most of the U.S. and loves cold winters in the north. 

"Tochilavri" Garlic also known as "Red Toch" has up to 18 cloves per bulb.  Its a good garlic to start with because each head produces many new plants.  It also matures earlier than other garlics.  It is a soft neck garlic - See more at: http://followingthemastergardener.blogspot.com/#sthash.25rfoalI.dpuf

"Tochilavri" Garlic also known as "Red Toch" has up to 18 cloves per bulb.  Its a good garlic to start with because each head produces many new plants.  It also matures earlier than other garlics.  It is a soft neck garlic.

German White Garlic

"German White" Garlic is supposed to be an easy garlic to grow if its your first time planting garlic.   It is a very strong variety and easy to peel with a sweet flavor.  It grows well in most of the U.S. and loves cold winters in the north.

Tochilavri (left) German White (right)

Life was busy around our house and the garlic arrived in the mail before I was ready to plant.  I kept it in the refrigerator for a week until I was able to plant around November 16th. It was a very simple planting process.

1. First I broke up the cloves in each bulb.  

2. Then I added an organic fertilizer to the soil and mixed it in with a rake.

  Press them 1 1/2" inches deep into the soil about 6-8" apart.    - See more at: http://followingthemastergardener.blogspot.com/#sthash.25rfoalI.dpuf

3. Next press the cloves 1 1/2" inches deep into the soil spacing them 6-8" apart.

 4.  Then add about 6 inches of leaves (straw or dried grass clippings) for mulch.

In about 4 to 8 weeks (depending on the weather) you should see shoots growing.  

Garlic planted in front portion of BED #4 (far right)

Note: It snowed the week after I planted the bulbs so I won't be seeing any shoots. The bulbs stop growing in the winter and then start up again in the spring.  Then sometime in June you harvest!