Garlic

As a garlic lover it is hard for me to resort to the ordinary garlic found in most grocery stores.  Growing your own garlic is not only a surefire way to culinary delights throughout the year, but it is also a simple addition to your garden that is easy to plant, maintain and harvest.

There are two kinds of true garlic:

• softneck (Allium sativum var sativum); and


• hardneck (Allium sativum var ophioscorodon).

Softneck garlic can be stored for up to a year or more and is more productive than hardnecks.  Recommended cultivars for Colorado include:

• Inchelium,


• Kettle River Giant, and


• Polish White.

Hardneck garlic does not have as long of a shelf life as softnecks, but offers a wider range of flavors.  Hardneck cultivars recommended for Colorado include:

• Chesnok Red,


• German White, and


• Polish Hardneck.

A great place to source garlic that grows well in our environment is our local farmers markets.

Plant garlic 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes in well drained amended soil.

• Break apart bulbs, using the largest cloves for planting.

• Plant cloves root end down, 2”deep and 4-6” apart in full sun.


• Add a deep layer of compost, leaf or straw mulch on top to maintain moisture and protect the soil during the winter.

In mid-summer, after removing the flower stalk, often called the scape (utilize its wonderful flavor), and once about ½ to 2/3 of the foliage has died back, it is ready to be harvested.  Dig up the entire bulb, being careful to not damage it.  Dry the bulbs in a dry, shady place with good air circulation for a few weeks.  You can then clean the bulbs and trim the hardneck stems or braid the softnecks.  Remember to save some bulbs for next years planting.

Estella Moore was a Colorado Master Gardener in 2010.  She lives in La Plata County.