Fall is a time many gardeners reflect on their past growing season and think about improvements for the next. Lately my mind has been swirling with alternatives to traditional vegetable gardening, including planting perennials, foraging, and incorporating farming into travel.
Why, then, did I also spend time this week planting garlic cloves?
Garlic — technically a perennial herb typically planted as an annual — earned its place in one of our pine log garden beds for many reasons. The benefits of growing garlic, especially for those of us with an on-the-go lifestyle, can be categorized into two overarching categories: low maintenance and high reward.
In this article, I’ll start with the rewards and then outline how easy it is to grow your own low maintenance garlic. At the end, I share some questions you can ask yourself to help decide if growing garlic — or any new crop — is worthwhile for you.
High reward: What are the benefits of homegrown garlic?
Why grow garlic yourself when bulbs are so commonly available in grocery produce sections?
Access unique varieties
Grocery stores often offer just one or two commercially-grown types of garlic, but there are hundreds of different varieties to explore. Growing garlic allows you to experiment with different flavors, colors, and sizes, adding diversity to your garden and palate.
There are two broad categories of garlic:
- Softneck: Softneck garlic often produces 10 to 40 layered cloves, can store for six to nine months, and can be braided using the soft stalks that emerge above the ground. Softneck varieties tend to grow better in regions with long growing seasons and mild winters.
- Hardneck: Hardneck garlic typically produces four to 12 larger cloves formed around a “flower” (scape – more on that soon), don’t store as well, but are well-suited for climates with long winters.
With so many different options to choose from under each category, I recommend finding local garlic growers to learn what thrives best in your area and purchase “seeds” directly from them.
This year, I planted two hardneck varieties (Spanish Roja and Chesnok Red) from Burnin’ Daylight Ranch in Tomah, Wisconsin.
Guaranteed to be fresh
Commercially grown garlic tends to be old by the time it makes its way to store shelves – one of the reasons it’s not recommended to plant grocery store garlic. When you grow your own garlic, you’re guaranteed to have access to fresh, flavorful cloves.
Edible garlic greens
Growing garlic isn’t just about the bulbs. The greens (and scapes in the case of hardneck varieties) that shoot up above ground are also edible and delicious. You can use them in salads, stir-fries, or pesto, providing an additional source of homegrown flavor.
Daily uses
An important reason I like to grow garlic is because it’s already a staple of my diet. It adds flavor and richness in so many ways: roasted whole with veggies, chopped and sautéed in endless dishes, and sprinkled on salads in powdered form. It’s so rewarding to grow what you already eat.
Powerful health benefits
Beyond its culinary benefits, garlic boasts important health advantages. It’s historically been used for cardiac health, reduced risk of infections, and reduced blood clotting. Including homegrown garlic in your diet may contribute to your overall well being.
Easy to store
Properly dried and stored garlic can last for months, making it a great investment for your pantry. Simply store it in a cool, dry place with good air circulation to ensure freshness.
Self-sustaining
Garlic is a self-sustaining crop. You can save a portion of your harvest to replant in subsequent years. This means you’ll only need to purchase “seed” garlic once, creating a sustainable cycle of growth.
Low maintenance: Why is garlic easy to grow?
If you’re convinced of the value of the end product, let’s take a closer look at why planting garlic may be less intimidating than you imagine.
Space efficient
Garlic is a space-efficient crop – requiring just six to eight inches between each clove. This is perfect for gardeners with limited space. Whether you have a sprawling garden or a tiny urban balcony with potted plants, there’s room for garlic.
Deters pests
I don’t believe any plant is truly “deer-resistant,” but, unlike my poor kale, garlic is not typically on the menu for deer and other critters. Its pungent odor often deters animals and insect pests. This is important considering we don’t plan to fence in our garden.
Cold hardy
Cold climate gardeners like me often feel at a disadvantage. But when it comes to garlic – especially hardneck varieties – many thrive in long winters. They actually require the period of dormancy to develop properly.
Simple to plant
Garlic is most often planted in late summer or fall, providing a midsummer harvest. The goal is for the roots to start developing before the ground freezes.
Here are four simple steps to planting garlic:
1. Prepare soil: Garlic prefers a sunny location with nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. Consider adding compost to ensure there is enough organic matter to produce those beautiful bulbs.
2. Prepare cloves: Peal and separate the cloves from the full bulb, leaving the individual wrappings in place.
Optional: If you want to go the extra mile, you can pre-soak the bulbs as described by my friends Krista and Grayson, who introduced me to growing garlic in 2019. This year I didn’t have fish emulsion or vodka on-hand so skipped the pre-soak.
3. Plant cloves: Plant the garlic cloves “pointy side up” in holes two to three inches deep and about six inches apart. Consider using sticks to mark or label the holes — especially if you have multiple varieties.
Optional: Another tip I gleaned from Krista and Grayson was to lay chicken wire or hardware cloth on top the soil to prevent rodents from digging up the cloves. I’ve had success with and without this step.
4. Mulch: Tuck those babies in for winter by topping with three to four inches of clean straw, leaves, grass clippings, or pine shavings — whatever you are comfortable using and have available.
“Set it and forget it”
…for the most part.
Once planted in the fall, garlic requires minimal attention until the following summer. Occasional watering may be necessary during long dry spells, but mostly you can feel free to focus on other projects, travel, harvest the scapes and greens as desired (oh, what a beautiful sight in spring!), and wait until harvesting and curing the bulbs in mid-summer.
Is growing garlic right for you?
Here are some questions I ask myself before planting something new:
- Is it something I already eat regularly or want to eat more of?
- Will it thrive in my environment? (Consider climate and actual growing space.)
- How much supervision/maintenance will it require?
With my answers of “yes,” “yes,” and “minimal,” garlic is a clear winner in my garden — at least for this year! The health and money-saving benefits are bonuses to an already rewarding, low maintenance food source.
Do you have a question or tip for growing garlic? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Carrie, Loved the way you have explained each part so well. I will surely trying growing these, looks pretty easy. But I could be late for growing them this year as summer is already here in Delhi, India 😀. But I will surely save it and trying growing them.
Hi Richa! So glad you found it helpful and plan to try growing garlic when the season is right in India. You can show me the results when I finally make it to Delhi.😊 Keep me updated!!