Before You Plant Garlic This Fall, Fix the Soil Under the Cloves, by Walt Crop House on YouTube. 22 min 17 s.
- Video length
- 22 min 17 s
- Time to do it
- 1 to 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick a sunny spot that gets at least six hours of direct light and has not grown garlic or onions in the last two to three years.
Dig a test hole about 30 cm deep and fill it with water. If it still holds water a day later, the drainage is poor and you need a raised bed or a different site.
Push a fork into the soil to check for compaction. Loosen any hard layer, then dig the bed over to about 20 to 25 cm deep.
Mix in 5 to 8 cm of compost or well-rotted manure across the surface and fork it into the top layer. Skip fresh manure.
Choose hardneck garlic for cold winters and softneck for mild climates. Ask your local extension service which types and planting dates suit your area.
Break bulbs into cloves just before planting. Keep the papery skin on and pick the largest, firmest cloves.
Plant each clove pointed end up, about 5 cm deep and 12 to 15 cm apart, in rows 25 to 30 cm apart.
Water the bed gently and cover it with 10 to 15 cm of straw or shredded leaves for winter protection.
Tips and common mistakes
Planting too shallow is a common mistake. Cloves should sit about 5 cm down, not on the surface.
Do not plant supermarket garlic that may be treated to stop sprouting. Buy seed garlic from a garden supplier.
Keep the mulch back slightly from the stems in spring so the shoots can push through.
Garlic rots in soggy soil, so fix drainage before planting rather than after.
Questions
When should I plant garlic in autumn?
Plant in autumn so roots form before the ground freezes. Your local extension service can give the exact window for your climate.
Hardneck or softneck garlic?
Hardnecks do well in cold winters and give scapes. Softnecks suit milder climates and store longer.
Can I plant garlic in a container?
Yes. Use a pot at least 20 cm deep with drainage holes and a free-draining compost mix.
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.
