Growing Garlic

There are three types of garlic. Allium sativum or common garlic, soft neck garlic or Italian garlic are common names. Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon or hard neck garlic, 10 glove garlic are common names. Thirdly, wild garlic Allium ursinum grows in the UK and the USA.

We buy common white-skin garlic in the supermarket. This variety keeps well and has the strongest flavour. The Creole type of common garlic has fewer cloves, are milder with a rose coloured skin. They both have 8-12 cloves. Hard neck garlic has a predominant neck with 4-12 cloves depending on variety. Wild garlic only has the one small bulb, but in compensation all parts of the plant are edible.

Varieties

Californian Early and Californian Late, common garlic, need cold temperatures of 4 degrees C/40 degrees F for about 6 weeks for good bulb and clove growth. New York (syn. Polish White) slight mauve, moderate disease resistant and better suited to temperate areas.

Creole, a silver skin garlic with purple cloves from Central America, needs a hot dry climate. German Extra Hardy, a hard neck type with red cloves that is known for its vigour and winter in temperate climates. Roja, a hard neck type, with brownish-red medium sized bulbs.

Continental garlic is a general term referring to various white or purple hard neck types for Mediterranean climates.

Prepare a deep, well-drained soil with lime if pH needs to be increased to 6.5 to 7.0. Incorporate lots of rotted manure or compost.

In a warm temperate climate, plant garlic in fall to early winter. Garlic will stay dormant for a few weeks before growing slowly over winter. Winter temperatures are required to initiate side buds that will produce the cloves (or flower buds in some types). The warmth of spring hastens the growth of the cloves.

In cooler temperate climates, plant after fall's first frost. Fall garlic will produce roots, but either no or short top growth. The emerged shoots will survive freezing temperatures. Mulch well (15 cm/6in) to prevent the seed from being pushed out of the ground. Remove the mulch in spring.

Plant the largest cloves root end down from just covered to 25 mm/1in deep and 100mm/4in distance apart. Poor production can be the result of seed quality, growing conditions, the variety, seasonal conditions and disease. The better the leaf growth before bulbs grow, the bigger the bulb and the cloves will be. Raise the beds to provide a free-draining soil. Liquid manures are beneficial. Garlic competes poorly with weeds.

The copyright of the article Growing Garlic in Organic Gardens is owned by Geoffrey Ian Miller. Permission to republish Growing Garlic in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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