🌿 1. When to Plant Garlic

  • Ideal Timing: Plant garlic about 6 weeks before the ground freezes. In northern regions like Ohio, this means mid-October. Southern growers can plant later.

  • Late Planting? No problem. Garlic is hardy and can be planted into frozen ground if necessary. Just mulch well.

  • Early Planting? Planting in late September can give garlic a head start with strong root growth.

  • Spring Planting? It’s possible, but bulbs may be smaller. Refrigerate cloves for 40 days to simulate winter.

🪧 2. Garlic Fertilization Soak (Optional but Recommended)

Why Soak?

  • Reduces disease

  • Boosts root development

  • Promotes larger bulbs

How-To:

  1. Separate cloves

  2. Soak in sterilizer (e.g., alcohol or hydrogen peroxide) for 10 min

  3. Rinse and soak in fertilizer solution (fish emulsion, kelp, garlic fertilizer + 1 tsp baking soda per gallon)

  4. Soak 30 minutes to overnight (max 3 days)

  5. Plant as usual

🌾 3. Planting Instructions

  • Plant cloves 3″ deep and 6–9″ apart, tip up, root down

  • Cover with 1″ of soil

  • Water lightly if needed

🍃 4. Mulching Garlic

  • Use 3–6 inches of straw, chopped leaves, or grass clippings

  • Helps with:

    • Winter protection

    • Weed suppression

    • Moisture retention

  • Leave mulch on until harvest (unless fungal issues arise in wet springs)

🌱 5. Spring Garlic Care

  • Fertilize early with nitrogen-rich organic fertilizer

  • Stop fertilizing before garlic scapes emerge

  • Weed consistently to reduce competition

  • Water ~1″ per week, taper off a few days before harvest

🌿 6. Garlic Scapes

  • Remove when scapes begin to curl

  • Snap at the base with your fingers

  • Increases bulb size

  • Scapes are edible — use them in pesto, sautés, and more!

  • ~40–50 scapes = 1 lb (varies by variety)

🌿 7. When to Harvest Garlic

  • ~3–4 weeks after scapes are removed

  • Harvest when:

    • 4–5 green leaves remain

    • OR 50% of leaves have browned

  • Test harvest: bulbs are firm, defined, and clove wrappers are forming

💧 8. Stop Watering Before Harvest

  • Water lightly as bulbs size up

  • Stop watering 5–7 days before harvest

  • Too much water = risk of rot and shorter storage life

🌿 9. How to Harvest Garlic

  1. Loosen soil gently with a garden fork

  2. Pull bulbs by hand

  3. Brush off excess dirt

Handle gently — garlic bruises easily and damage shortens storage life

Optional Cleaning:

  • Remove lowest green leaf within 1 hour

  • Trim leaves to leave 6–9″ of stem

  • Air dry immediately

🚨 10. How to Cure Garlic

  • Cure in a shaded, airy place for 3 weeks

  • Use fans for airflow

  • Bulbs are done curing when stems are dry and papery

Preferred Method (by Shipwrecked Garlic Co.):

  • Remove one green leaf at harvest for cleaner bulbs

  • Trim tops and brush roots

  • Lay flat or hang with airflow

🏪 11. How to Store Garlic

  • Store whole bulbs in a cool, dark, dry place

  • Ideal temp: 35°F to 55°F with 40–60% humidity

  • Best options:

    • Mesh baskets

    • Paper bags

    • Wooden crates

  • Avoid plastic bags or sealed containers

Refrigeration:

  • Okay for long-term storage

  • Store in a paper bag in the crisper drawer

  • Expect sprouting when removed from cold

In the South?

  • Refrigerate garlic for 40 days at 40°F to trigger vernalization before planting

Sprouted Garlic? Still edible! Sprouts are packed with nutrients.

🔄 12. Long-Term Garlic Success

  • Handle bulbs gently at harvest

  • Cure thoroughly

  • Store with airflow

  • Choose the right varieties for storage

For useful Garlic growing equipment, welcome to check our products and drop inquiry.

HUAYO GARLIC PLANTER