Growing Garlic

Garlic is similar to onion, except for producing a single bulb, it produces a compound bulb consisting of a group of white or purplish scales.

Each group is called a clove and the bulb is enclosed in a purplish membrane covering. Each clove can be planted to grow a garlic plant. Planting larger cloves will produce larger bulbs.

In the South, garlic planted in the fall produces a larger bulb before very hot weather. Growers should start with a site that's in full sunlight and well-drained. Work compost, and manure or about one fourth pound of 13-13-13 fertilizer per 10 feet of row, into the soil before planting. Plant each clove, flat end down, at a depth of about an inch. Space cloves five or six inches apart to allow adequate room for good root and bulb development.

Garlic shouldn't have any trouble tolerating cold weather, but adding straw mulch will help protect it in the northern part of the state. Garlic bulbs can be harvested in late spring and like onions, they are ready to harvest when the tops begin to fall over.