Growing Garlic

I decided to dig up my garlic to see if my experiment worked.  It really didn’t.

Two or three falls ago, I ordered and planted garlic seed.  I chose a bad spot for it, along a walkway that got covered over with woodchips.  The garlic fought hard to make it through the soil, newspapers, and thick coat of woodchips.  It was trampled and died back before I could harvest it.

The next Spring, it sprouted again, and was trampled.  Ditto for the following year.

Last Fall, I dug it up and planted it in a more purposeful place and vowed to make that spot my garlic patch.

Most of the bulbs sprouted in the Spring and did moderately well.  I dug them up this past week.  They hadn’t developed more than two cloves per head.  I was disappointed, but not surprised.

I planted garlic because I hate the stuff that is sold in the grocery store.  If it isn’t shriveled and sprouting when I buy it, it will be by the time I get to the last clove of the head.  Such was the case when I pulled out my garlic for spaghetti sauce.  Disgusted, I tried the stuff I’d pulled from the garden.

It was still sitting on the path where I left it a couple of days ago, looking pretty dejected.  But I brought it in and tried it.  It was wonderful!!!

When the beans that I planted in place of the garlic are finished, I’ll put in my garlic and try it again.  I did some more research and found a helpful website.  Hood River Garlic in Oregon has a great website with LOTS of information.  I found its FAQ page very informative.

This year, I think I’ll try ‘Susanville’.  I wanted to grow a softneck variety.  Softnecks are the type of garlic that can be braided and stored for months in the pantry, but hardneck varieties are better suited for cold climates.  ‘Susanville’ is one softneck variety that Hood River recommends for northern climates.  It suits my needs perfectly and I’m looking forward to giving it a try.  If a successful crop is anything better than my failed experiment, I won’t be disappointed.

Check out http://www.hoodrivergarlic.com/about.htm for more information on choosing and growing your own garlic.