A Gardener's Guide to Garlic: Varieties, Growing, Harvesting, and Preserving

Garlic, with its pungent aroma and versatile culinary uses, is a popular addition to many gardens. Growing your own garlic can be a rewarding experience, providing you with a fresh supply of this flavorful herb. In this blog post, we'll walk you through the process of planting and caring for garlic, from selecting the right garlic varieties to harvesting and storing your bountiful crop.

Choosing Your Garlic

Common White Garlic (Allium sativum)

Common white garlic, also known as softneck garlic, is the most widely used variety. It's recognized by its papery white skin, with anywhere from 10 to 20 cloves per bulb. This garlic boasts a moderately strong flavor, making it versatile for various recipes, such as soups, sauces, stir-fries, and roasts. It stores well and is available year-round in most grocery stores.

Hardneck Garlic (Allium sativum ophioscorodon)

Hardneck garlic, known for its stiff central stem (scape), has a milder, slightly sweeter taste than common white garlic. It's distinguished by its fewer but larger cloves, typically 4-12 per bulb. Hardneck garlic is often preferred by chefs for its complex, nuanced flavor. Roasting hardneck garlic brings out its natural sweetness, making it a superb choice for gourmet dishes.

Elephant Garlic (Allium ampeloprasum)

Don't be fooled by its name; elephant garlic isn't a true garlic, but a member of the leek family. It features large, individual cloves and a mild, garlic-like flavor. Elephant garlic is often used as a substitute for traditional garlic when a milder taste is desired. It's excellent for roasting, grilling, and making garlic spreads.

Rocambole Garlic (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon)

Rocambole garlic is renowned for its rich and robust flavor. Its cloves are wrapped in a thick, purple-tinged skin and are typically arranged in a single ring around the central stem. This variety is highly regarded by garlic enthusiasts and is excellent for making pesto, garlic butter, and flavorful sauces.

Purple Stripe Garlic (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon)

Purple stripe garlic varieties feature striking purple stripes on their bulb wrappers and a spicy, robust flavor. They have 8-12 cloves per bulb and are ideal for adding a punch of garlic flavor to dishes like pasta, stews, and roasted meats. Purple stripe garlic is also known for its impressive shelf life when properly stored.

Silverskin Garlic (Allium sativum var. sativum)

Silverskin garlic, also called softneck silverskin garlic, is the garlic of choice for braiding due to its flexible stems. It has a mild to moderate flavor and is usually the last garlic to be harvested each season. Silverskin garlic is perfect for long-term storage and is often used in pickling or for making garlic powder.

Each type of garlic offers its unique flavor profile, appearance, and culinary applications. Experimenting with different garlic varieties can add depth and complexity to your dishes, taking your culinary adventures to new heights.

Growing Your Garlic

Step 1: Preparing the Soil

Garlic thrives in well-drained soil with good organic matter content. Prepare your garden bed by loosening the soil to a depth of about 8-10 inches and incorporating compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil fertility. Ensure that the planting site receives full sun, as garlic requires at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day.

Step 2: Planting Garlic

Garlic should be planted in the fall, a few weeks before the first hard freeze. In my zone 7A, I usually plant garlic around October 31st as part of my Samhain rituals and have planted as late as November 15th. Colder areas should have garlic in the ground before the first frost. Follow these steps for successful garlic planting:

1. Separate the garlic bulbs into individual cloves, being careful not to damage them.

2. Plant the cloves about 2 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart, with the pointed end facing up.

3. Space rows about 12 inches apart.

4. Mulch the garlic bed with straw or leaves to protect the cloves from freezing temperatures.

Step 3: Watering and Maintenance

Garlic prefers consistent moisture but doesn't like to sit in waterlogged soil. It is recommended to water your garlic regularly, providing about 1 inch of water per week. During dry spells, increase watering to prevent the soil from drying out completely. I'll be honest: I plant my garlic in the fall and forget it until Spring, and I usually have no issues here in Virginia.

Remove any weeds that may compete with your garlic for nutrients and water. Garlic is relatively low-maintenance, but keeping the garden bed weed-free ensures your crop's health and growth. It also makes harvesting easier in the Spring.

Step 4: Fertilizing

Garlic benefits from a balanced fertilizer application in early spring when it starts growing vigorously. Use a slow-release organic fertilizer or a balanced NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilizer according to package instructions. Avoid excessive nitrogen, as it can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of bulb development.

Harvesting Your Garlic

Our youngest, excited about digging in the dirt.

As the summer sun wanes and your garlic plants mature into plump bulbs, it's time to prepare for the next steps in the journey of homegrown garlic: harvesting.

Knowing when to harvest garlic is crucial to ensure optimal flavor and storage life. Here's how to tell when it's time to dig up your garlic:

Step 1: Check the Leaves

Look at the leaves of the garlic plants. When about half of the lower leaves have turned brown and dried up, it's a sign that your garlic is ready for harvest. This usually occurs in late spring to early summer, depending on your location.

Step 2: Test a Bulb

Carefully dig up one or two bulbs to check their readiness. The cloves should fill out the bulb completely, and the wrappers should be tight and papery. If the bulbs are still loose or the cloves aren't fully developed, give them more time in the ground.

Step 3: Dig Them Up

Use a garden fork or shovel to gently loosen the soil around the bulbs. Carefully lift the garlic bulbs from the soil, being cautious not to bruise or damage them. Shake off excess soil and leave the plants outdoors, in a shaded, well-ventilated area, to dry for a few hours.

Notes:

Consider the Variety

Different garlic varieties may have varying harvest times, so it's essential to know the specific characteristics of the type you've planted. Some varieties may mature earlier than others.

Hardneck Varieties: Hardneck Garlic will send up scapes, or stems, that can be cut off of the plant and cooked into a tasty treat (more on this in a future post). Once the scapes have been harvested, the plant will divert it's energy to growing the bulbs underground, so check back a few weeks after the scapes have been cut.

Avoid a Late Harvest

Harvesting garlic too late can result in cloves splitting apart and reduced storage life, so it's better to err on the side of caution.

Preserving Your Garlic

Now that you've successfully harvested your garlic, it's time to preserve it for long-term use. Here are several methods to ensure your garlic stays flavorful for months to come:

Curing

After harvesting, allow the garlic bulbs to cure for two to four weeks in a dry, well-ventilated space. Hanging them in bundles or spreading them out on screens or trays works well. This process allows the bulbs to develop a papery outer skin and enhances their flavor.

Braiding

Softneck garlic varieties lend themselves well to braiding. Braid the dried garlic stalks together to create beautiful garlic ropes that can be hung in your kitchen for easy access.

Storage

Once cured, store garlic bulbs in a cool, dry place with good airflow. A mesh bag, a wooden crate, or a garlic keeper with holes for ventilation are ideal storage options. The garlic should stay fresh for several months.

Freezing

For a convenient option, you can freeze peeled garlic cloves or minced garlic in ice cube trays with a bit of water or oil. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag for easy portioning when cooking.

Dehydrating

You can also dehydrate garlic to make garlic powder or garlic flakes. Simply slice the cloves thinly and dehydrate them in a food dehydrator or an oven set to a low temperature. Grind the dehydrated slices to make your garlic powder or keep them as flakes.

Garlic can also be preserved in oil, pickled, or turned into medicine. The processes and recipes for these types of preservation will be discussed in future posts. In the meantime, get your garlic planted now so you can experiment with the many uses of flavorful garlic in the future. Garlic is truly one of the easiest plants to grow and will be one of the first things you get to harvest in the spring, bringing an easy sense of accomplishment for even the most novice of gardeners.