Fall Garlic Planting: How to Grow Your Own Garlic

Hello, again!

Long ago, we had a regular at the store that my brothers and I referred to as 'Garlic Man'. Every fall, he would bring in his home-grown garlic for us to sell. Not a named variety, just garlic bulbs. He was passionate about all things garlic and its health benefits, as well as fall planting and gardening.

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been prized for centuries for both its flavor and health benefits and is one of the easiest and most rewarding crops to grow in Kansas gardens. Garlic contains allicin, a natural compound that gives it both its pungent aroma and many of its healthful properties. Studies suggest garlic can help lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, and support immune function. It's also a flavorful, calorie-free way to enhance nearly any dish, from roasted vegetables to fresh salsas and marinades.

Fall is the best time to plant garlic in Kansas. Just like our spring flowering bulbs, fall planting gives the garlic time to establish roots before winter dormancy, leading to larger bulbs at harvest.

The planting process is easy. First, choose a sunny, well-drained area with loose, fertile soil. To improve the health and condition of the soil I like to amend my beds with Johnson's Soil Recipe. You can save some time and money by purchasing this premade, or make it yourself:

Johnson's Soil Recipe
Covers 100 sq. ft.

• Three 2 cu. ft. bags Cotton Burr Compost
• 3.25 lbs. Hi-Yield Bone Meal
• 3.25 lbs. ferti•lome Gardener's Special
• 3.25 lbs. ferti•lome Humic

Mix in the Soil Recipe with a tiller or a garden shovel to about 8-12" deep. Deeper is OK, but not always practical in heavy clay soils.

Once the soil is prepared, separate the cloves from the bulb, keeping the papery skins intact. Plant each clove about 2 inches deep, and 4 to 6 inches apart, pointed side up. Cover the cloves with soil and add a light covering of straw mulch or shredded leaves to insulate them against temperature swings. Last year I procrastinated and didn't get my garlic planted until mid-December. They did fine, but this year I didn't delay and got them planted just before our last rainfall.

In spring, remove the mulch and apply ferti-lome Gardener's Special to keep the plants growing strong. Keep the bed evenly moist but not soggy.

Garlic is usually ready to harvest by June or early July when the lower leaves begin to yellow. Carefully dig up the bulbs, brush off excess soil, and cure them in a warm, dry spot for 2 - 3 weeks before trimming and storing.

Types of Garlic to Grow

There are two main types of garlic, and both perform well in Kansas when planted in the fall.

• Hardneck Garlic – Best suited for colder climates, hardneck varieties produce a flower stalk, or "scape," that can be harvested and eaten in early summer. These have a rich, complex flavor and are easy to peel.
• Softneck Garlic – The type most commonly found in grocery stores, softneck varieties store exceptionally well and thrive in milder winters.

Garlic is one of the easiest crops to grow and one of the most satisfying to harvest. With just a little fall preparation, you'll enjoy flavorful bulbs next summer that can keep for months in storage. Stop by our stores for locally adapted garlic varieties and our Soil Recipe to get your garlic crop off to a great start this fall.

Once I found the magic of garlic in cooking, I've found myself using it in almost everything I prepare. If you're a garlic lover like me, check out Orie's Farm Fresh for all things garlic. They have everything from their own locally grown garlic to seasonally available fresh vegetables to a wide variety of Herb Medleys and salt blends.

The holidays are almost here! Don't miss out on signing up for our Holiday Workshops, and get an early start to your season with our Christmas Open House next week, Nov. 5 - 8.

Your friend in the garden,

Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers