Growing, Curing and Storing Garlic in 3 Easy Steps

Growing, Curing, and Storing Garlic in 3 Easy Steps

Growing your own garlic can be a rewarding experience, offering you a fresh supply of garlic for your recipes for up to 9 months.

Here's a simplified guide to growing, curing, and storing garlic effectively, with insights from various extension agencies.

Pruning Shears recommended for preparing Garlic for storage: 

Felco F-6 or Fiskars from Amazon

Step 1: Growing Garlic

1. Choose the Right Variety:

   • Hardneck garlic: Ideal for cooler climates, it has a strong flavor and produces a flower stalk (scape). Popular varieties include Rocambole and Purple Stripe.

   • Softneck garlic: Best for warmer climates, it has a milder flavor and does not produce a scape. Common varieties include Silverskin and Artichoke.

1. Planting Time:

   • Plant garlic in the fall, about 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes. This allows the cloves to establish roots before winter .

   • Use seed garlic that is free from disease. This is what I bought:

   

2. Site Preparation and Planting:

   • Choose a sunny location with well-drained, loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 .

   • Take the bulb apart and plant the healthy cloves from disease-free bulbs about 2-3 inches deep with the pointed end up. Space them 4-6 inches apart in rows 12-18 inches apart.

   • Cover the garlic bed with a 3-4 inch layer of mulch (straw or leaves) to protect against cold temperatures and suppress weeds .

Care and Maintenance

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering as the bulbs mature, especially in the last few weeks before harvest .

• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or compost at planting and again in the spring when growth resumes .

• Weeding: Keep the garlic bed weed-free to prevent competition for nutrients and water .

Step 2: Curing Garlic

1. Harvest Timing:

   • Garlic is ready to harvest in mid-summer when the lower leaves begin to yellow and dry.  I harvest when there is about 5 leaves from the bottom that are yellow. Test by digging up a bulb and checking its size. If the cloves are well-formed and the skin is thick and papery, it's time to harvest .

      Harvesting and curing onions is a very similar process. Click here to learn

1. Cleaning and Drying:

   • Shake excess soil from the bulbs without removing the outer layers of skin. Keep some soil on the bulb to aid with drying.

   • Hang the garlic in bundles or spread it out in a single layer on a mesh surface in a well-ventilated, dry, hot,  and shady area. Ensure good air circulation to prevent mold. I place mine in my greenhouse in the shade with a fan on low blowing on them.

   • Allow the garlic to cure for 2-4 weeks. The outer skin will become papery, and the necks will dry out completely .

2. Trimming:

   • Once cured, trim the roots, brush the remaining soil off, and cut the stalks about 1-2 inches above the bulb.

Step 3: Storing Garlic

Storage Tips

1. Optimal Conditions:

   • Store garlic in a cool, dark, and dry place with good air circulation. Ideal storage temperatures are between 50-60°F for a couple months. Any cool, well-ventilated place will do for storage through the winter months.

   • In very cold areas the bulbs should be protected from freezing. According to OSU Extension service, the ideal storage temperature is 32°–38°F at less than 70% humidity for storage up to 9 months. 

   • Garlic will sprout fastest between 40°–60°F.  Basements and refrigerators are not ideal because they are often too humid, which can cause garlic to sprout prematurely or become moldy .

2. Storage Containers:

   • Use mesh bags, paper bags, or baskets to store garlic. Avoid plastic bags as they can trap moisture and lead to rot .

1. Whole Bulb Storage:

   • Store garlic as whole bulbs rather than separating the cloves. Whole bulbs retain their integrity and help preserve the cloves inside. Separated cloves are more susceptible to moisture and decay .

2. Regular Monitoring:

   • Regularly check stored garlic for signs of sprouting or rot and remove any affected bulbs promptly .

Additional Tips for Success

• Crop Rotation: Avoid planting garlic in the same spot each year to prevent soil-borne diseases. Rotate with non-allium crops .

• Pest Control: Watch for pests like onion maggots and nematodes. Use row covers and practice good garden hygiene to minimize risks .

• Garlic Scapes: If growing hardneck garlic, harvest the scapes (flower stalks) when they start to curl. They are edible and can be used in various dishes .

With these easy steps for planting, curing, and storing, you'll enjoy the bounty of your labor in the kitchen and beyond.

Happy gardening!

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