Bountiful garlic harvests are eaily attainable for every SETX gardener since our fall and winter climate is conducive to growing garlic. Simply follow the garlic planting guidelines for a bumper harvest (image courtesy: thedallasgarden.com).
By: John Green, Certified Texas Expert Gardener, Orange County, TX
Another week has passed us by without rainfall as the drought continues throughout SETX counties (all are under a ‘burn’ bans) which means each of us must be mindful and not start fires intentionally! The amount of rainfall we have received the past seven weeks…negligible! Gardeners, remember that water is Texas’ most precious natural resource so please use it wisely, without waste! Landscapes, plants, trees, shrubs all require water, but we must take care to ensure the water provided reaches the intended area, and only during early morning or late evening hours. Water conservation is everyone’s business!
Gardeners, if you have never planted garlic, it should be noted there is minimal effort required to plant which most often provides a bounty at harvest. Late fall (mid-November through December) is the optimal time to plant garlic in SETX. Gardeners, home-grown garlic has an amazing flavor, much more intense than anything purchased!
Most of us cook with garlic regularly (for us daily), but have you considered growing garlic? Garlic is readily available at almost every grocery market, but it was in cold storage prior to being placed in the produce section. Cold storage delays garlic’s internal clock, slowing the aging process.
GARLIC TYPES: Softneck, Hardneck. and Elephant (which is not garlic).
Softneck garlic grows best in the south and areas where winters are mild. Most varieties do not produce scapes (the thin green curled stalk), but they are great for braiding. Varieties include Creole, Silver Rose, Loiacono, Early Italian, and Texas Rose.
Hardneck types are adapted to cold winter areas, and all produce curled scapes in early summer. Popular varieties include Porcelain, Purple Stripe, Montana Giant, Shilla, Amish Rocambole, Pehoski Purple, and Romanian Red .
Elephant garlic produces a large, mild-flavored bulb comprised of 4-6 big cloves and is not a type of garlic but is closely related to leeks.
Garlic is best planted in the fall or early winter for SETX gardeners. Garlic can be planted in spring, but harvest quantities will be limited due to Texas’ heat and because of this I’m focusing on fall planting. Planting garlic during the fall allows the roots to develop during the cooler months so that by early spring gardeners will see new green leaf growth, required for large bulbs to form.
There are multiple ways to plant, my preference is to plant garlic in a raised bed (in areas not previously used for onions, shallots, leeks, or garlic unless soil was removed). Work generous amounts of rich compost into the top 6 inches of soil, adding 10-10-10 fertilizer noting the soil must be friable (loose and well drained).
Separate the garlic bulbs into individual cloves and plant each clove (pointy ends up), then cover with 1 or 2-inches of soil. Cloves should be spaced approximately 4-inches apart. Add an additional 1-inch layer of mulch, followed by a 3-inche layer of pine straw for warmth, to help protect during winter low temps.
When leaves begin to appear in spring, it’s time to feed the garlic plants with a teaspoon of a high -nitrogen fertilizer which decomposes slowly, such as blood meal. Work into the soil near the plant and add mulch if needed.
As the leaves begin to turn brown, the garlic is ready to harvest. Begy in bchecking the garlic (bulb formation) when there are 5-6 leaves remaining. Garlic must be cured before it can be stored! My preference is to bundle 12-15 plants together using their leaves, then allowing them to hang until dry. Garlic needs to be cured for a minimum of two weeks or until stalks have turned completely brown, at which point the bulbs can be removed from the leaves and stored inside.
GROWTH STAGES
Green garlic is simply young garlic which looks similar leeks or green onion though has a sweeter, more mellow flavor than a garlic clove. The garlic leaf can be used in its entirety. Choose stalks that are fully green and fresh, not wilted. Yellow leaves are a signal the plant is close to becoming a bulb and stalks tend to be woodier. As garlic grows into maturity the bottom begins to round slowly becoming the bulb.
Scapes are formed after the green garlic has formed the bulbous bottom before the bulb is ready for harvest. The bulb sends out a long, thin, curly stalk from its center. That is the garlic scape. Scapes only grow on Hardneck varieties. Like green garlic they are tender and fully usable. They normally last the first few weeks of June.
Bulbs are often ready to harvest near July 4th. They should be full and covered with their papery skins and ready to be removed. The bulbs will be full of moisture at this point as they have not been allowed to be cured. Make sure the bulbs feel firm and heavy for their size. Some clusters may be more open than others, thus making it easier to separate cloves later.
STORAGE
Green Garlic – store for up to two weeks in loose plastic or mesh bags in crisper drawer so air can circulate.
Freshly harvested bulbs – up to 2 months in pantry or dry spot out of direct sunlight.
Do not refrigerate garlic bulbs. Dry, room temperature is perfect out of direct sunlight.
Until next time fellow gardeners, let’s go out and grow some ‘Garlic’ fo a greener and more sustainable world, one plant at a time! Please send your gardening questions to: jongreene57@gmail.com.
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