Garlic is one of the greatest crops to grow because it requires so little effort, and the results are delicious.
Don’t be frightened by the number of bullet items below – the whole process takes me 45 minutes, including planting 160 garlic.
- Clear bed of all debris, fallen leaves, etc.
- Spread layer of fertilizer. (In my case I only need nitrogen, I use soy or alfalfa meal.)
- Add lime, if necessary. (In the northeast it is necessary.)
- Spread 1″-3″ of compost. Use the back of a bow rake to spread the bed flat.
- Allow to sit a few days while squirrels and raccoons dig in it. Better now than after you’ve planted.
- Repair bed from squirrel/raccoon damage as necessary and plant bulbs 2″-3″ deep (two knuckles deep, for me), pointy end up, spaced every 5″-7″, depending upon what size garlic you want and space available.
- Cover with hay or, preferably, shredded leaves.
- Do nothing until June 2017, unless you want to.
If you DO want to do more, then here are some simple other things to do:
-Water, regularly or as needed,
-Add some nitrogen, but not more than twice and
not too close to harvest time,
-Take photos.