Dutch Valley - Garlic Baby Bulbs

Garlic Set Planting Instructions

• Soil Preparation
  Make sure that you plant in a location that is full sun with good soil drainage. It is ideal for soil pH to be between 6.0 and 7.0. Garlic prefers soil with high organic matter. Garlic need to be fertilized well.
• Fertilizing
  In the fall fertilize with a product like 12-12-12 at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per 100 feet of row. If you can find a product with mainly phosphate and potash this is preferred. In the spring side-dress with a nitrogen-based fertilizer at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per 100 feet of row.
• Planting
  Crack the garlic only prior to planting. We recommend treating the garlic. Ideally plant within 5 days of cracking. The largest cloves will produce the largest bulbs. For northern areas plant between mid-September to mid-October. For Southern areas plant early October to mid-November. Garlic should be planted at least 3 weeks before the soil is frozen so that the garlic establishes good root growth. We recommend planting on raised beds for proper drainage. Garlic does not like wet feet. Garlic can be grown on bare soil. Mulching and plastic are great tools for controlling weeds. After planting, water in the garlic. The garlic will not need to be watered again until the spring.
• Growing
  The garlic grows the most in the spring. Water as you would any other vegetable. Continually weed. Garlic does not do well under weed pressure. Most hardneck garlic varieties will need to be scaped, roughly in early June. It is best to scape before the scape straightens out. Remove the scape by cutting it off or snapping it. Do not pull. As the garlic begins to bulb reduce watering and as soon as lower leaves begin to turn brown discontinue watering.
• Harvest and Storage
  We harvest when about 25 to 50 percent of the leaves turn brown. Be sure to handle the garlic gently. It is tender like an apple after harvest. Soil should be wiped or brushed off. Do not leave garlic in direct sunlight because it can get sun scalded. Garlic should be spread out or hung up in a well-ventilated area with low humidity to cure. Curing can take quite a bit of time, up to a month. When cured, the garlic clove wrapper will be dry and tight to the clove. At this time the roots and stem can be trimmed.