Growing Garlic for Beginners
by John Yazo
Whether you would like to grow garlic for your cooking needs or as a companion plant for pest control in your organic garden, fall is the time to plant this herb to have it mature in time for harvesting in the following summer. If you have never grown garlic before, it is an easy crop to grow and one that requires a minimal amount of care, along with being for the most part problem-free.
Knowing the different types of garlic is the first step in choosing the type best for your growing conditions. Hardneck, (Allium ophioscorodon), usually send up flowering stalks. They are best grown in climates that have very cold winters. They produce cloves that are easy to peel. Softneck varieties, (Allium sativum), are what is typically sold in supermarkets and can be grown in a wider rage of growing conditions. the skin on a softneck variety is tighter, making them a better choice for longer periods of storage.
The growing conditions that garlic prefers is an area of full sunlight and a good healthy organic soil structure that is rich in organic matter. A good organic soil structure is one that will retain the moisture and nutrients well to provide for your crop when needed, along with being a soil that will drain well. Garlic will produce the best crop for harvest under these growing conditions. It is a crop that is susceptible to fungus when grown in a soil that retains to much water, a well drained soil is important, raised beds are ideal for growing garlic.
For a year round supply of garlic greens, you can also plant garlic in containers indoors. Just fill some a small pot with a potting mix and place it is a sunny location, like on a windowsill. You can snip the greens from the plant as needed for your everyday use.
Garlic has been becoming a more popular crop to grow in the home garden. This interest has been noticed by the many different garlic festivals. These festivals are a great place to get the opportunity to learn about garlic and a great place to purchase cloves that are best suited for the growing conditions of your area. Garlic, like any other plant you want to grow should be purchased from a reliable source. Purchasing seeds, bulbs or plants that are healthy from the beginning will reduce the possibility of disease problems in your gardens.
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