How to Plant, Grow & Harvest Garlic

Growing and harvesting garlic can be one of the most beneficial garden chores that you will ever do. Garlic has many healthful properties, including antiviral and antibacterial. Plant garlic cloves to start a stand of garlic. The new garlic plant will send shoots from the pointed end of the clove, and in no time, you will have a new garlic plant ready to be harvested. Plant your garlic in an area that receives sun most of the day and that does not have extremely damp soil.

Things You'll Need

• Garlic cloves
• Water
• General-purpose fertilizer

Instructions

1. Plant individual garlic cloves with the pointed side up. They should be buried about 1 inch below the surface and about 4 inches apart in rows that are 18 inches apart. Cloves planted in the fall will be ready for a spring crop.

2. Water cloves as the weather makes the ground dry. Fertilize with a general-purpose fertilizer after planting in the fall, and several times in the spring prior to harvest.

3. Harvest garlic by pulling from the ground after the tops have turned brown. Lay them on some newspaper to dry in the sun for several days.

4. Brush the loose dirt from the garlic bulbs after they have dried. Store excess garlic in a cool, dry place until ready for use.

Tips & Warnings

• Plant garlic cloves near roses to rid them of aphids and other pests.

References

• Garlic 101: Growing Garlic in the Home Garden