Planting Garlic

Sept. 22, 2015

This is Jason Lamb with your Gardening Minute.

The fall is a great time to plant garlic. Garlic is a hardy, cool-season perennial.  A relative of onions, chives, and leeks, garlic produces bulbs with flat, solid leaves. As the garlic bulb matures, it becomes segmented and contains 5 to 16 cloves, depending on the variety. 

There are generally two types of garlic hard neck varieties and soft neck varieties. Hard neck varieties do better in colder climates and are larger and easier to peel. Soft neck varieties tend to be better adapted over a great range of climatic conditions.

Garlic should be planted in October here in Quay County. Select clean, dry bulbs, and carefully break them apart into individual cloves. Cloves should be planted the same day they are divided. Plant cloves with the stem end down 1 to 3 inches deep and 3 to 6 inches apart. Mulching will help protect bulbs from severe cold and will help conserve moisture. Two rows are usually planted 12 to 14 inches apart on top of a flat vegetable bed. Irrigate immediately after planting.

Garlic cloves require a period of 6 to 8 weeks of cool weather after planting to vernalize. During the fall and winter, cloves will develop their root systems and initiate some top growth. Garlic should be ready to harvest in April, after harvest the garlic should be dried and kept free from moisture. 

For more information about planting garlic please contact us at the Cooperative Extension Office at 461-0562. This has been your Gardening Minute with Jason Lamb your Quay County Ag. Extension Agent. Where are programs are open to everyone.

(Adapted from NMSU Guild H-234 – Garlic production in NM)