Life Cycle of a Garlic Plant

Soil Preparation

• Prepare the soil by digging an 8- to 12-inch depth and removing all weeds and modification of soil with compost.

Bulbs

• For best results, bulbs, or clove clusters, are planted during the fall season, six weeks before soil freezes in an area with full sun exposure. The bulbs are planted with pointy end up, about 1 to 2 inches deep and spaced 5 inches apart in the ground.

Fertilization and Watering

• To retain moisture and deter weeds, add compost. Plants are watered once a week.

Maturity

• It takes eight months for garlic plants to mature. They are ready to harvest when leaves turn brown and die.

Drying

• After removing them from the soil, hang the plants in a cool, dry place. After a week, the tops and roots are removed, leaving the cloves. The cloves are wiped clean and kept dry, but not washed and kept at room temperature until ready to use. For future harvesting, save the larger bulbs for planting.