Garlic is one vegetableNike Tn that can grow quite easily and its tangy taste makes it out to be one that can be used to spice up a variety of dishes. You can choose from a variety of garlic to grow such as Hardneck and Softneck. The Hardneck garlic variety grows best in cold climate, while the Softneck variety can grow in a range of climates and are more productive in nature than the Hardneck types.
Garlic takes about eight to nine months to mature, so the ideal time to plant garlic is before the winter season begins. The place that you choose for planting the plant must get good enough sunshine and undisturbed for throughout the period that it matures under the soil. The soil must be well-drained, with a ph balance between 5.0 and 8.0 and the bed-raised. Separate cloves from the bulb and soak all the cloves in water mixed with baking soda. This protects the cloves from fungal attack after they are planted in the soil. It is vital to select firm cloves as only they can mature and grow into good garlic bulbs after plantation.
Make a two-inch hole into the soil for each clove and plant them with their pointy side upwards. Each clove must be placed four to six inches apart. After all the cloves have been planted, cover the soil with organic mulch. The cloves will be dormant throughout winter, but during spring time, they resume their growth process. Throughout spring to summer time, you need to water the cloves as they will need this if they do not get any water from normal rainfall. It is also necessary to put some mulch into the soil as this will help in growth. Cut on flower stalks that have developed.
Harvest the garlic in early summer time when the bottom leaves of the plant turn yellow or they fall over as this is an indication that the plant is ripe for harvesting. When removing garlic bulbs from the coil, you need to pull them out gently so that they do not break. Once removed, you need to place the bulbs in a dry place where they will cure. The curing process requires that you need to wipe the garlic well and dry it for a period of two to three weeks. The garlic must be hung from an airy container, after which you can remove the garlic roots and top parts. Set aside the biggest of the garlic bulbs for the next planting session.
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