Although you may not reap the fruits of your labor until next summer, when you can enjoy fresh pesto, quiches, and other garlic-filled foods, fall is the greatest season to plant garlic. Garlic cultivation is simple and enjoyable.

HOW TO GROW GARLIC IN MINNESOTA, MN?

Plant the garlic cloves outside in October to allow the roots to develop before the ground freezes, and then watch for greenery in early spring the following year.

GARLIC PLANTING AND GROWING IN MINNESOTA, MN

• Garlic thrives in full sun and slightly acidic, well-drained soil.
• Look for bulbs at a nearby nursery (see our list of partner nurseries). Garlic cloves from the grocery store should not be planted. Store-bought garlic types may not be hardy enough for northern gardens.

Related Guide: HOW TO PREPARE THE SOIL FOR GROWING GARLIC

Some garlic bulbs may have been treated with preservatives to help them last longer in the market.

• Remove the paper husk from each clove and break apart the bulb to extract individual cloves.
• Plant garlic cloves 2 to 4 inches apart and 2 inches deep, pointy end up. Choose the largest and healthiest cloves since they will produce larger and healthier bulbs next year.
• Cover garlic bulbs with a thick layer of straw during the winter after the threat of frost has passed, then remove the straw in the spring when the fear of frost has passed.
• Remove any flower stalks in the spring since they will reduce bulb size.

HARVESTING AND STORING OF GARLIC IN MINNESOTA, MN

It’s time to harvest when the foliage turns yellow at the top and falls over, which normally happens in late June to August.

Harvest a test bulb to ensure that the cloves are plump and that the bulbs are completely coated in thick, dry paper.

If the paper wrapping is thin and disintegrates, it’s too early to harvest. Bulbs can split apart if you wait too long.

Read Also: WHEN DOES GARLIC BLOOM

Instead of pulling bulbs, dig them up carefully and brush away the soil. Bruise the bulbs as little as possible. Allow bulbs to dry for two weeks in a cool, shady location with adequate air circulation

—for the best air circulation, hang them upside down in bunches of four to six bulbs.

The bulbs are ready to be kept once the roots and paper husk have dried. Remove the tops and roots and keep them cool, dark, and dry (not in a moist basement or refrigerator).

Save a handful of your largest, healthiest bulbs for next fall’s planting.

Is it possible to cultivate garlic in Minnesota?

HOW DEEP DO YOU PLANT GARLIC IN MINNESOTA, MN?

roughly 2″ in depth

Plant the largest and healthiest garlic cloves with the pointy end up and the basal plate down. Each clove should be planted about 2″ deep and 6″ or more apart. 19th of July, 2021

HOW TO GROW GARLIC IN HOME GARDENS IN MN?

a few quick facts

• Garlic thrives in soil that is well-drained and moisture-retentive, with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
• Plant garlic cloves in the fall, one to two weeks after the first fatal frost.
• Weeds can readily overwhelm new garlic plants if they are not controlled early.
• Insects aren’t a big issue with garlic, but onion maggot can be a concern.
• Harvest garlic between late June and late July, depending on the variety and climate zone.

CLOVES FOR COOKING

• Onions and chives are related relatives of garlic (Allium sativum L.).
• It’s a medicinal as well as a culinary herb.
• Garlic grows in the form of bulbs that split into many cloves.
• Each clove has a papery sheath that is white-purplish or pinkish in color.

FERTILITY AND SOIL PH

Fertilizer and soil testing

• Obtain a soil analysis.
• Garlic thrives in soil that is well-drained and moisture-retentive, with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
• Add well-rotted manure or compost to your soil in the spring or fall to increase its organic matter content.
• Avoid using fresh manure since it may contain hazardous microorganisms and exacerbate weed issues.
• Till your soils before planting to create a loose growing substrate for bulb growth.
• Garlic has a moderate to high nitrogen need, thus urea can be used before planting.

Top dress as soon as the shoots appear, then two to three weeks later.

Don’t apply nitrogen after the first week of May, otherwise bulbing will be delayed.

If you added enough compost in the fall, you may not need additional nitrogen in the spring.

• Phosphorus buildup in the soil is caused by the application of high-phosphorus fertilizers such as 10-10-10 or 15-30-15, as well as high rates of manure or manure compost.
• Use a low phosphorus (32-3-10, 27-3-3, or 25-3-12) or no phosphorus (such as 30-0-10 or 24-0-15) fertilizer if your soil tests high in phosphorus.

o Phosphate fertilizer may cause some runoff. It might then become a significant source of pollution in our lakes, rivers, and streams.

High quantities of phosphorus encourage algal overproduction, resulting in a severe drop in water quality.

PLANT SELECTION

Garlic varieties to choose

The majority of commercial garlic is grown in northern California’s mild environment. In Minnesota, some garlic cultivars will not grow well and will acquire a “hot” flavor.

Use types adapted to cold areas while selecting garlic for your garden.

Elephant garlic is actually a sort of leek, not a true garlic.

Types who are apprehensive

• Rocambole, Purple Stripe, and Porcelain are common hardneck varieties.
• Hardneck types develop a scape, which is a blooming stem.
• Scape flowers frequently fail and produce “bulbils,” or little aerial cloves.
• Remove scapes as soon as they begin to curl and eat them. More grown scapes can also be used in floral arrangements.

TYPES WITH A SOFT NECK GARLIC

Artichoke and Silverskin are two softneck varieties.

• These varieties produce a lot of cloves and are simple to braid.
• Unlike hardneck varieties, softneck varieties do not produce a flowering stalk. This quality can be affected by the weather. In one location, a softneck variety can form a flowering stalk, while in another location, it can form a flowering stalk.

PLANTING OF GARLIC

Growing garlic from cloves

• To grow garlic, you must plant cloves. Purchase cloves from national or local garlic seed producers.
• Avoid planting cloves from garlic purchased at the grocery store. This garlic, primarily the softneck variety, does not do well under Minnesota conditions.
• Plant garlic cloves in the fall, one to two weeks after the first fatal frost.
• Roots and shoots will emerge from the cloves by the first hard freeze, but shoots will usually not emerge from the soil until the following spring.
• Separate individual cloves a day or two before planting.
• Plant cloves in double rows, six inches apart. Center the rows on beds, 30 inches apart. Plant cloves pointed side up, with the base of the clove two to three inches from the soil surface.
• Cover beds with three to four inches of leaf or straw mulch to prevent fluctuating temperatures during the winter and early spring, and to help control weeds.
• Remove mulch in the spring after the threat of hard freezes is over to help the soil warm up. You can also leave it in place to help with weed control and preserve soil moisture.

CONCLUSION

Garlic thrives in full sun and slightly acidic, well-drained soil. Garlic cloves from the grocery store should not be planted. Store-bought garlic types may not be hardy enough for northern gardens.

Harvest garlic when the foliage turns yellow at the top and falls over. Garlic thrives in soil that is well-drained and moisture-retentive, with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.

Plant garlic cloves in the fall, one to two weeks after the first fatal frost. It’s a medicinal as well as a culinary herb.

The majority of commercial garlic is grown in northern California’s mild environment.

In Minnesota, some garlic cultivars will not grow well and will acquire a “hot” flavor. To grow garlic from cloves, you must purchase cloves from national or local garlic seed producers.

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