How to Plant Garlic

Instructions to Plant Garlic:

1.) Find a raised area or ideally a planter box in which you can mix good soil with mulch. But garlic can be planted in any area you have, even with flowers or other plants. Garlic loves a spot with full sun.

2.) Dig small holes, about 3 inches deep. The holes should be about 4 inches apart from each other, dig one hole for each clove of garlic you are going to plant.

3.) Separate the cloves of garlic just prior to planting and leave the skin on the garlic clove. Place the clove in the hole with the sprout facing upward. The bigger the clove, the better for planting.

4.) Cover the bulbs with dirt, but you want the bulb to be just below the ground surface (only about an inch of dirt should be placed on top of the bulb -do not plant deep).

5.) Water the bulbs well and continue to water each day.

6.) Check in a couple weeks, you may already begin to see straight green shoots above the ground. They look like chives and will grow to about a foot above the ground.

7.) Garlic will be full grown in a couple of months. They are ready when the green sprouts turn completely tan or brown.

8.) Loosen the ground around the brown sprouts and then pull the garlic out of the ground. Hang the garlic in a cool dry spot (if you’re clever you can braid the stems) and let dry for at least a week. Gently brush the dirt off the bulbs after drying but before storing. Make sure the skins are dry before storing or the garlic can develop mold.