Garlic as we all know is one of the few crops that are planted during the rainy season. Ahead of this year one can simply plant a clove, cover it with mulch, and will be ready for harvest during the dry season.
Traditionally, in zone 7, garlic is planted in the winter and harvested in the summer (“plant on the shortest day, harvest on the longest”). Plant the cloves (apart from the bulb), pointing upward, at a depth where the earth will only barely cover them.
A reasonably resilient and easily grown plant, although you will receive a better crop in better soil with frequent watering. You will still get some garlic in inferior soil and if you forget to water them, but not nearly as much, perhaps just one enormous bulb.
You will probably obtain a lot of self-sown plants the next year if you allow garlic to mature to seed.
Read also: WHEN TO PLANT GARLIC IN ZONE 5
After the green shoots stop, dig up the plants to store for later use and allow them to dry for about a day. Pull up a head when you need it or trim and utilize the green shoots for immediate use.
You will probably obtain a lot of self-sown plants the next year if you allow garlic to mature to seed.
Garlic can be planted in the spring if you missed the chance to do so in the fall, but it often won’t have very large bulbs. Before planting the garlic in the spring, place the cloves in a cool place, such as the refrigerator, below 40 degrees F (4 C), for a few weeks.
HOW TO GROW GARLIC IN ZONE 7
Break bulbs apart into individual cloves just prior to planting. Place the cloves point side up 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.) deep and 2 to 6 inches (5-15 cm.) apart in the row. Be sure to plant the cloves deep enough.
Cloves that are planted too shallowly are more likely to suffer winter damage. Plant the cloves about one to two weeks after the first killing frost up until six weeks or so before the ground freezes.
Just before planting, divide the cloves of bulbs. Bury the cloves 1 to 2 inches (2.5–5 cm) deep, point side up, and space them 2–6 inches (5–15 cm) apart. Verify that the cloves are buried sufficiently deep.
Too-shallow planting of cloves increases the possibility of cold damage. Plant the cloves one to two weeks after the first fatal frost, up to about six weeks before the ground freezes.
When around three-quarters of the leaves are yellow, harvest your garlic. With a garden fork, carefully remove them. Give the bulbs two to three weeks to dry in a warm, ventilated room away from direct sunshine.
After they have had time to dry, remove all but an inch (2.5 cm) of the dried tops, remove any remaining dirt, and trim the roots. The bulbs should be kept dry and cool, between 40 and 60 degrees F.
