Can I Plant Garlic Cloves?

Varieties

• There are many varieties of garlic plants; however, they are generally divided into two types: hard-neck, which produce produces bulbils and must be planted upright; and soft-neck, which generally does not produce bulbils unless the plant is stressed by lack of water or nutrients, and can be planted upside down. Soft-neck varieties are the most widely planted, as they can be cultivated with farm machinery. Grocery store bulbs are not suitable stock because they are usually sprayed with an anti-sprouting chemical.

Storage

• Seed stock is examined for nematode and white rot damage, and hung up to cure for 10 to 14 days. The bulbs do not need washing, and when the skins dry to a paper consistency, they can be stored in warehouses between 45 degrees Fahrenheit and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, with the most desirable temperature at 50 F and 70 percent humidity. The plant stock must be stored as whole bulbs in a dry environment.

Planting Preparation

• Just before planting, break apart the bulbs into separate cloves. The larger cloves are useful to propagate plants with larger bulbs. You can discard smaller, center cloves, as they are not suitable for planting. Garlic cloves may be removed by feeding the bulbs through a series of rubber rollers or by holding them over a blast of compressed air for easier separation. The paper skins on the cloves need to remain intact.

Planting

• Planting times for seed stock vary by stock variety and planting location. Seed stock local to your area will grow better, as it does not need to acclimate to the native soil and water conditions. Plant cloves just below the soil surface, either upright or upside down, depending on the variety, from 1 to 3 inches apart. Each garlic bed can have two rows, 12 to 14 inches apart.