Nobody is aware of the origins of modern-day planted garlic. Chinese, Roman, Egyptian, and Greek authors all wrote about it in antiquity. Whatever its origins, garlic has piqued the curiosity of both cooks and gardeners.
It is also simple to grow in Georgian backyard gardens. Additionally, the onion family member garlic grows in the garden for many years.
Plant little cloves or divisions of the big bulb to begin growing garlic. One or more dozen cloves are present in each bulb. Plant each clove on its own. The mature bulb during harvest will be greater the larger the clove.
Wait until you are ready to plant before dividing the bulb. Lower yields will result if the cloves are separated too soon. Choose “seed bulbs” that are big, smooth, healthy, and disease-free.
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a perennial member of the onion family, but in Georgia it produces best when it’s treated as an annual and planted in the fall. Fall planting allows garlic to take advantage of the mild Georgia winter and beat the heat of the Georgia summer.
Garlic is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8, so virtually all varieties are able to grow in Georgia, which spans from USDA zone 6a in the north to USDA zone 9a along the Atlantic coast.
But hard-neck types do best in areas with harsher winters and cool springs, so they might struggle in mild Georgia winters and warm springs. Soft-neck types are better able to handle Southern climates.
Although garlic (Allium sativum), a perennial member of the onion family, is best grown in Georgia as an annual in the fall. Garlic can be planted in the fall to benefit from the moderate Georgia winter and avoid the sweltering Georgia summer.
In Georgia, which stretches from USDA zone 6a in the north to USDA zone 9a along the Atlantic coast, all types of garlic can be grown because they are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. Hard-neck people, however, do better in regions with harsher winters and cooler springs; hence, they might suffer in Georgia’s mild winters and hot springs. Soft-necked people fare better in hotter regions.
Garlic plants go through two unique stages of development: the leaves grow in the early season’s mild days, and the bulbs grow later, once the weather warms and leaf growth slows. Garlic is frequently planted in the autumn or early winter to give the plant a head start on the upcoming summer since the plant needs enough time in the growing season remaining for bulb development after leaf growth stops in order to create large bulbs.
The planting season in Georgia starts in late September and lasts through November. Planting in the spring is not advised.
In Georgia, which stretches from USDA zone 6a in the north to USDA zone 9a along the Atlantic coast, all types of garlic can be grown because they are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 8.
Hard-neck garlic, however, do better in regions with harsher winters and cooler springs; hence, they might suffer in Georgia’s mild winters and hot springs
The optimum soil for growing garlic is one that drains well, is loose, and is rich in organic materials. Bulb development is optimal when the plants are grown in a crumbly soil, thus adding organic matter to the planting bed prior to planting can both increase the nutritional content of the soil and enhance its texture. For every 100 square feet of planting space, add around 100 pounds of composted manure.
Additionally, garlic benefits greatly from additional nitrogen fertilizer in large quantities. For every 100 square feet of planting space, add 3 pounds of dry 10-10-10 fertilizer before planting.
The pointed ends of each garlic clove, from which the leaves will emerge, must face up when planting. The plant’s neck will be deformed if they are planted with the points facing down, and the bulbs won’t grow properly.
Just before planting, divide the bulb into individual cloves while leaving the skin on. Use only fresh garlic, never store-bought. They should be placed 6 inches apart in a trench that is 1 to 3 inches deep. When planting in multiple rows, leave 12 to 14 inches between each one.
Water the seed cloves well after covering them with dirt. Garlic bulbs may rot in rainy soil, so be cautious when watering in the future to keep the soil moist but not saturated. Every week, garlic needs around one inch of water.
