How To: “Planting Garlic This Fall for Huge Cloves Next Summer!”, by Beautee In The Garden on YouTube. 19 min 5 s.
- Video length
- 19 min 5 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Pick a sunny spot that gets at least six hours of direct light and drains well. Garlic rots in soggy ground, so avoid low spots where water pools.
Break the bulbs into individual cloves a day or two before planting. Keep the papery skin on and choose the biggest, firmest cloves.
Loosen the soil to about 20 cm deep and mix in a few handfuls of compost. Remove stones and roots so the cloves can push down easily.
Plant each clove pointed end up, about 5 cm deep and 12 to 15 cm apart. Rows should be around 25 cm apart.
Cover the cloves with soil and press it down gently. Water once so the soil settles around them.
Spread a 5 cm layer of straw or chopped leaves over the bed. This keeps moisture in, blocks weeds and protects the cloves from hard frost.
Water only when the soil is dry through winter, since cold wet soil causes rot. In spring, water more often as green shoots appear.
Pull any weeds by hand so you do not disturb the shallow roots. Feed once in early spring with a light dose of compost or balanced fertiliser.
Stop watering about two weeks before harvest. Lift the bulbs in midsummer when the lower leaves turn brown but three or four green leaves remain.
Dry the bulbs in a warm, airy, shaded place for two to three weeks, then brush off loose soil and store them in a cool, dry spot.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not plant supermarket garlic, as it may be treated to stop sprouting and can carry disease.
Planting too shallow leaves cloves exposed to frost, so check they sit about 5 cm under the surface.
Never waterlog the bed in winter, because wet cold soil is the main cause of rotting cloves.
Keep the biggest cloves for planting and eat the small ones, since large cloves grow larger bulbs.
Questions
When should I plant garlic in autumn?
Plant about four to six weeks before the first hard frost, so roots form before the ground freezes. In mild climates you can plant as late as early winter.
Can I grow garlic in pots?
Yes. Use a pot at least 20 cm deep with drainage holes and a loose potting mix. Keep it outdoors in a sunny spot and water less in winter.
How do I know when to harvest?
Lift the bulbs when the lower leaves have browned but a few green leaves are left. Waiting too long makes the bulbs split and store badly.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
