Garlic & Plants

Growing Garlic

• Unlike other common household plants that should be planted in the spring, garlic fares best when planted in the fall. Prepare the soil about three weeks before a hard freeze is anticipated by tilling it thoroughly. Break the garlic cloves apart, saving the smaller cloves for culinary use. Put the garlic in rows between any other vegetation, giving it a minimum of 4 inches of space between each bulb. Make sure that the pointed end of the garlic is facing upward with 2 inches of soil on top.

Maintenance

• Garlic requires more fertilizer than many other plants, including vegetables. A basic 10-10-10 mix works well for this purpose. Add 1 lb. of fertilizer for every 100 square feet of garden. This type of all-purpose fertilizer is commonly used for a variety of greenery, so it should nourish the rest of the garden as well. Consider mulching around the garlic to prevent weeds and keep the soil's moisture level consistent. Water the plants in spring during dry weather, then stop in July, allowing the top portion of the plant to die back before harvesting the bulbs in August.

Growing Larger Bulbs

• During warm weather, garlic begins producing a straight stalk that makes a loop with a flower. This is a garlic scape. To encourage the plant's production of a larger bulb, prune back the scape as you might any plant to encourage increased fruit or flower production. However, do not throw away your scapes as they're excellent steamed with butter or tossed into stirfry.

Garlic as a Companion Plant

• Companion planting is a system of using substances found in various plant roots, leaves and flowers to either attract helpful insects or repel harmful ones. It's a natural way to keep the garden healthy. Garlic specifically helps cabbage and lettuce as aphids don't like it. Beets, cabbage and roses also love to grow near garlic. About the only plants that do not grow cooperatively with garlic are beans, peas and potatoes.