Ideal Soil Type

Garlic is a fairly easy and hearty plant to grow. As it is a natural insecticide, predatory enemies of garlic are few. Garlic enjoys a soil pH that is slightly on the acidic side.  We like to aim for a soil pH between 6.7 - 6.9. Garlic does enjoy soil that has a good amount of organic material in it. A well draining soil is ideal. Your fertilizer choice and watering regiment will vary from climate to climate. We do follow organic practices and DO NOT use any pesticides or herbicides, nor do we use any synthetic fertilizers. As a general rule, we simply do not let the soil go dry, nor do we over water. We do cut water supply a few weeks before harvest. 

When to Plant & Harvest your garlic 

Planting garlic in the fall is best. We plant our garlic approximately two weeks before the first frost. We get all of our amendments in before we do any of our planting. Harvesting in our area is done in mid-summer. We usually know when our garlic is ready to be harvested when a few of the leaves on the stalk have turned yellow/brown. That said, we also dig some of the soil around the garlic to check for individual clove formation. You may have to use a spade to loosen the soil under and around the garlic for easier harvesting.
*As a tip to help increase bulb size, we cut the scapes when they have curled over twice. 

How to Cure and Store your garlic

While the delicious, freshly harvested garlic is excellent to eat immediately, in order to allow your garlic to keep for the longest possible time, curing it is necessary. While there are varying ways to do this (as there are with all things), a well ventilated, dark, and dry place is ideal. We use a covered shed and hang our garlic with the stock and roots intact. Once cured (dried), we cut the stalks down to a couple of inches and the roots to about 1/4 inch.
For maximum longevity, store your cured garlic in a cold, dark, and dry area. Properly cured garlic can keep for up to 6 months or longer.