Growing your own garlic is easy to do, but it does require a long growing season. Some gardeners prefer to plant garlic in September so that it forms a good root system, which gives it a head start for the spring. If you didn't get a chance to plant the garlic in September you want to plant it as early as possible in the spring. Garlic bulbs are already available in the garden centres. For the best results, gardeners should plant the garlic bulbs that are purchased from the garden centre, rather then the 'eating' garlic that is purchased at the grocery stores. Quite often the eating garlic is sprayed with a growth inhibitor to prevent it from sprouting.

Garlic grows best in a well drained soil, ideally, a sandy loam that is high in organic matter. It does not do well in a poorly drained soil. Before planting the garlic work the soil to a depth of 20-30 cm. When looking for a suitable site to plant the garlic, look for a sunny location as garlic does best in full sun.

Plant garlic as soon as the soil is workable. When it comes time to plant, carefully separate the individual garlic cloves. Use only the healthy cloves. Throw out any cloves that have signs of mold. The biggest cloves will produce the largest bulbs, so you may want to discard the very small ones. Plant the separated garlic cloves with the pointed tip up, about 5-7 cm deep, spaced 10 cm apart in rows 45-50 cm apart. After planting the cloves give it a light water. You will soon notice green sprouts emerging from the soil.

During dry spells, give garlic a good thorough water ng. Garlic does not like to go dry but it also does not like to be kept too wet. Around mid summer stop watering so that the bulbs can mature. Garlic is rarely bothered by pests and disease. Keep the plants well weeded, being careful when tilling the soil not to disturb the plants roots.

As the garlic grows you will notice a central stalk that will grow straight up and then loop with a bulb at the tip. These long stalks are called 'scapes' and are quite edible. Some gardeners prefer to remove the scapes while others leave them on the plant.

Garlic is harvested when it is mature in late summer. The bottom leaves turn yellow and the top ones are still green. Check the garlic first to make sure that it has matured before harvesting the entire crop. Dig the garlic out of the garden with a pitchfork. Don't pull it, because you will end up harming the bulbs. Garlic has a long root system which makes them hard to pull out. If you plan on storing the garlic bulbs, shake off any excess soil, being careful not to bruise the cloves. 'Cure' the garlic by placing the plants in a airy place out of the sun for a few weeks. It can be hung or braided. After the tops have dried, they can be removed and then you only have to store the cloves. If garlic is properly cured it can be kept for 6-8 months in a cool dark place, with good air circulation. 

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prince George:

• Highway 16 West at Kimball Road
• Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road