Growing Garlic Ten Commandments

Morado Gigante garlic

Remember that in our climate, the desert Southwest, Mojave Desert, plant garlic in late September to the end of October. You can go later and we have and it usually turns out fine but this is the best time. Prepare the soil well with well-rotted organic matter (compost) and use lots of phosphorus (bone meal) in the bed. You can plant both hardneck and softneck varieties. Varieties to include might be Red Toche, Susanville, Polish White, Giant Morado, Tuscan, Red Janice, California Early, and many others. Most will work well here. – Extremehort

10. Always start with quality planting stock. Plant the biggest cloves – they yield the biggest bulbs (Eat the smaller ones!)

9. Planting in fall is best (though people have reported good luck with early spring planting). Full sun preferred.

7. Garlic likes friable soil, near neutral pH, with some composted manure. Incorporate a little bone meal at planting. And thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s bulbils.

6. Plant cloves about 5-6 inches apart and 2-3 inches deep.

5. Mulch your garlic (straw, alfalfa, leaves, etc.)

4. Keep soil moist (don’t let it dry out during the winter)

3. Garlic hates weeds.

2. Harvest when lower half of leaves have largely turned brown.

1. Be sure to cure your garlic by hanging it in a shady, well ventilated place for 2-3 weeks.