Starting Garlic Bulbs for Harvesting Next Summer

If I can only recommend one crop to grow for fall gardening, it’s garlic. Planting garlic bulbs now means you’ll be rewarded with flavorful heads next summer that are ideal for cooking and gifting. Garlic is surprisingly easy to grow, so give it a try this season! 

Why Plant Garlic in Fall

The cool-down climate of autumn is perfect for growing garlic. When planted in fall, garlic cloves have sufficient time to develop strong root systems before winter sets in. By spring, they’ll shoot up and produce bigger and healthier bulbs. It’s a bit like giving your garlic a head start while most of the garden is dormant - you’ll be rewarded with bigger harvests and unbeatable flavors.

Choosing the Right Variety

There are two main types of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Hardneck varieties are well-adapted to colder climates and often produce a bonus treat - garlic scapes in spring. You can sauté or blend these into pesto. Softneck types grow better in milder climates and store longer, often lasting well into the next spring. Check with your local nursery or seed catalog to see which type is best suited for your region.

Planting Tips

It’s recommended to start with healthy seed garlic, and not the grocery store bulbs as they are often treated to prevent sprouting. Break the bulb apart and plant individual cloves pointy side up, about 2 inches deep. Space them in rows 4 to 6 inches apart so they have enough room to grow. Garlic prefers well-drained, fertile soil, so add some compost or aged manure before planting. Work in a layer of mulch as well - think shredded leaves, or grass clippings, it will help insulate the soil and keep moisture steady through winter. As you start planting, consider sowing cover crops like clover or rye to enrich your soil for spring.

Caring Through Fall and Beyond 

Once planted, your garlic doesn’t require much attention until spring. In some regions, you might see green shoots pop up before frost. In this case, don’t worry, as this is quite normal. Your plants will hunker down once cold weather arrives and take off again come spring. You can add an extra layer of mulch for added protection if your winters are particularly harsh. 

You will see the real payoff by next summer. Around June or July, your garlic bulbs will be ready to harvest when the lower leaves start to brown while the upper ones remain green. That’s when you can pull them and cure them in a dry, airy spot, and enjoy homegrown garlic for the rest of the year. Don’t forget those curly scapes in late spring if you’ve planted hardneck varieties - they’re a delicacy.

Wrapping Up 

Planting garlic in autumn is one of the easiest ways to ensure a delicious harvest by next summer. Prepare now with good seed garlic, rich soil, and a layer of mulch, and you’ll be on your way tro planting success. There’s nothing quite like cooking winter meals with cloves from your own garden that’s full of fresh flavor. So grab some bulbs, tuck them into the soil and look forward to a bountiful harvest next summer!