Garlic [Allium sativum]

Garlic

Garlic has been grown for thousands of years for its culinary and medicinal properties. It is a common ingredient in Mediterranean and Asian cuisines. Hardneck garlic is the hardiest form. Varieties in this group form cloves around a woody stem that sends up a curly flower stalk. Softneck garlic forms cloves around a soft neck or stem, which braids easily.

Plant garlic in the fall around the time of the first frost, and mulch well over winter to produce the largest bulbs. Spring-planted bulbs will be smaller at harvest.

Light:

    Sun

Zones:

    4-9

Plant Type:

    Vegetable

Plant Height:

    8-24 inches tall

Plant Width:

    2-6 inches wide

Top Varieties

'New York White' garlic

Allium sativum 'New York White' is also called 'Polish White'. It's a hardy, disease-resistant variety for northern regions.

'Russian Red' garlic

Allium sativum 'Russian Red' is a hardneck type with purple stripes on its cloves. It is exceptionally winter hardy.

'Silver White' garlic

Allium sativum 'Silver White' is a softneck type for warm climates. It produces easy-to-peel white bulbs.

'Spanish Roja' garlic

Allium sativum 'Spanish Roja' is a hardneck type with medium-hot flavor. The brown-skin cloves are excellent for roasting.

Garden Plans Inspired by Italy Vegetable Garden Plan

Harvest Tips:  

 When about half of the garlic leaves turn yellow, withhold water and knock over the tops. Allow the garlic to cure in the garden for a week. Harvest the bulbs, remove any soil, and hang them in a cool, dry place for two weeks. Once tops are dry, trim them off 1/2 inch above the bulb (or braid softneck types) and trim the roots at the base of the bulb.