How To Grow Garlic In Arizona

Growing garlic is 1 of my favorite gardens delights. There is aught similar the taste of fresh garlic from the garden; once y'all have it you'll never what the stuff from the store.

Here in Phoenix I kickoff putting garlic in the garden in late September, then it is just about that fourth dimension.

I'k going to share with you everything I know about growing garlic so you can successfully produce your own garlic at dwelling house.

All You lot Demand to Know About Growing Garlic

If I'm Growing Garlic, do I Need Garlic Seeds?

Non exactly, when growing garlic you lot'll need garlic bulbs. I recommend y'all purchase bulbs specifically for planting. You can grow garlic from the grocery store but yous'll have a harder time. Grocery store garlic is ordinarily treated so it volition not sprout. Not to mention yous'll miss out on the wonderful varieties of heirloom garlic! To purchase your garlic I recommend Seeds At present or Baker Rare Seeds; both have many different types to choose from.

Types of Garlic

There are two Different Types of Garlic Varieties

- The Softneck Multifariousness – This garlic will have a softer neck (stem) after harvesting and will be easier for braiding. These are nifty for warm climates and what I plant here in Phoenix. I have too found that the softneck garlic has a stronger season than the harneck types.
- The Hardnek Diverseness – The hardneck garlics will grow best in colder climates and usually don't store likewise or as long as the softnecks will.

Growing Garlic – Soil and Planting

Bank check the best time to found garlic in your zone (bank check your zone here). In libation climates you may be able to get-go your bulbs in leap just nigh of us will plant in the autumn.
You'll want a light and fertile soil with plenty of drainage. I have used my DIY Soil Mix with neat results! I grow garlic all over my raised beds considering the keep many pests away.
Garlic prefers sunday so don't choose a shady spot in your garden for growing garlic.
To plant yous'll want to carve up your caput into individual cloves if they are non already like that. Cheque that your cloves or bulbs are blemish complimentary before planting.
Plant each clove two inches deep with the pointy terminate up. You'll want to give your bulbs about 4 inches altitude from the next.
If your climate tends to freeze you'll want to give your garlic a mulch encompass and remove as the temps rise.
You should come across shoot popping upwardly in 4 – 6 weeks.
While garlic is fairly easy to grow you'll demand to monitor your watering. Garlic prefers fifty-fifty moisture. Likewise much h2o and y'all'll have poor quality wrappers, skins and fifty-fifty mold. Too little water will keep your heads from reaching their full potential. Watering every 3 to five days should exist adequate.
In every bit fiddling as 4 weeks you should start seeing shoots popping up through the basis.
Watch for flowering and trim off flowers if they develop; these could cause smaller bulbs.

Harvesting Your Home Grown Garlic

Don't rush it! Your garlic volition take 5 – 7 growing months earlier it is ready to harvest. Only it is worth the expect!
In one case y'all see that near or all the garlic greens accept turned brown, your garlic is ready to harvest.
Make sure y'all give the garlic time to dry out below ground before pulling information technology out.
Don't water for a couple days before pulling the plants.
You volition gently pull the plants by hand or use a small garden shovel to assist.
Lightly brush off the exterior dirt and allow your garlic to cure in the shade with plenty of air circulation. You lot'll know they're ready for storage with the outside is dry and paper like.

Storing Your Garlic

Remove the dirt and dirty "papers" from the outside of the bulb but DO NOT remove all the outer papers!
Store at room temperature and your garlic will last up to 8 months.
Yous tin can freeze or pickle garlic besides.
Don't forget to save some for homemade garlic powder!
You lot tin can braid the softneck garlic or trim the roots and leaves and shop them individually.