Garlic

[B@ssDoctor]

Just a reminder that Garlic Fest is this weekend in Hutchinson. There is a 2 for 1 admission on their HSOforum.

[Tator2k]

I'm there!

[Tator2k]

There are alot of folks to can talk to at county and state fairs, renfest and even farmers markets who can give you great advice as well and strong stock right from their out gardens.

I've been looking at the Garlic Fest site and there's some techniques I can do better next year.

I think I spent $6 on a starter kit from a farmer teaching a class at renfest last year.

[itchmesir]

So when should I plan on planting garlic here? do i wait til right before the first frost?

[SkunkedAgain]

yup

[itchmesir]

Do I want to cover the area at all with anything once its planted?

[Big-Al]

I wait until the ground cools some so I get some growth but not break the ground surface. I mulch with 6-8" of good clean straw.

[itchmesir]

Thanks Al

[SkunkedAgain]

You can use straw, leaves from your yard, etc.

[Big-Al]

I have used leaves and various other mulches. The reason I like to use straw is that I rake it to the side in the spring and after the garlic gets 8 inches or so I reuse it it to mulch it for the summer. I works well for me.

[SkunkedAgain]

Anyone planted their garlic yet? I'm going to try getting mine into the ground tonight.

[Big-Al]

I put mine in two weeks ago. It was a bit earlier than I wanted but my time was limited so I had to go for it. I am a bit concerned about the dryness. I am wishing I had watered before I mulched.

[Grainbelt]

I got mine planted on the 11th. I have about a foot of leaves on them and my tomato cages on top of that to keep the wind from blowing them off. I watered again last night. That garden garlic sure is good!

[SkunkedAgain]

I planted mine last Monday night, the 15th. I planted a few bulbs of that Music Garlic. I didn't think about this until after planting them all, but this year I left the wrappers on each clove. It doesn't sound like it makes much of a difference one way or the other. In the past I always removed the skins.

What do you guys do?

[Grainbelt]

Last year I did what you did leaving the skins on, they all came up.

[Big-Al]

I have been told that the skins should stay on. Some always slough off and this year there were more than usual that lost the skin.

[shizzy]

I've always just popped the head apart, jammed the cloves in the ground and had garlic the next year. I'm lazy like that.

[Tator2k]

I got mine in the ground on Sunday I planted 15 cloves of 4 different types in a new raised bed I built over the summer.

I planted Georgian Fire and Crystal, Romanian Red and Armenian.

I've cover mine with some leaves while raking and that'll be it.

[SkunkedAgain]

Good to hear. Maybe I was the crazy guy planting naked cloves in the ground!

[B17]

Hey guys. We have been doing garlic for a few years now and have had great returns on it every single year. Not only that, its simple.

Here are some pics from years past. I am going to try it in a square foot garden this year and see how that works.

After tilling I set up the posts

Tie some twine from end to end

Finished product

[Tator2k]

Time to remove the mulch and top cover or let them grow through?

[Big-Al]

I had the mulch off by this time last year but of course that was last year. I have nearly a foot of now over my mulch yet, with a few inches of new to boot. I will wait till the ground starts to warm and then rake the mulch back. After the garlic is about 6 or 8 inches I will replace the mulch. It you don't have it very thick I am sure you could let it grow through but mine is quite thick.

[SkunkedAgain]

I typically wait until the garlic pokes through the mulch in spring to remove it. This year the snow has barely receded before it gets covered by snow again. I'll wait until we have consistent temps in the 50s before doing anything.

[Grainbelt]

Has anyone ever transplanted garlic after they sprout in the spring? I'm building raised beds this year and am considering moving half of my bulbs.

[Big-Al]

I have not heard of doing it. They form a pretty good root system with the fall planting so I am sure there would be danger of damage. If your soil was very high in organics so you could minimize root disturbance it might be possible. You can do it successfully with onions so maybe garlic would work also. My thought would be you might be just as well off planting from seed versus transplanting.