Facts for Garlic Planting & Picking

Soil Preparation

• Garlic grows well in loamy soils with a high content of organic matter like manure or compost and full sun. Fertilizing is important for encouraging the growth of your garlic bulbs.

Planting

• Plant garlic in the fall, so it can get a start on root development and have better growth in the spring. Plant cloves 3 to 5 inches apart and keep them in an upright position. Wait to divide bulbs into cloves until right before planting.

Watering

• Keep soil moist, as dry soil will produce deformed bulbs. Usually an average of an inch of water a week will suffice for good growth.

Picking

• Harvest in August by digging up garlic bulbs to avoid injuring the plant. Let bulbs and stems cure before storing. When dry, cut off the stem an inch above the bulb.

Storing

• Garlic cloves keep up to seven months in storage. Temperatures may vary, but garlic stores best at 32 F with humidity around 65 percent, according to the Ohio State University Extension.