How To PLANT GARLIC For A PEST FREE GARDEN Next Season

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you found this video helpful, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊TIMESTAMPS for convenience: 0:00 How To Grow Garlic For A Pest Free Garden 0:59 Interplanting As A Natural Insect Control Remedy 1:59 Growing Garlic Bulbs As A "Garlic Insect Repellent" 3:44 Hardneck VS Softneck Garlic Growing Tips 4:57 How To Plan Out Planting Fall Garlic For Pest Control 6:22 How To Separate Garlic Gloves For Planting 8:03 How To Plant Garlic Gloves In Ground 9:22 How To Fertilize Garlic Bulbs 13:08 Planting The Smaller Garlic Cloves 13:52 Watering Garlic And Garlic Germination Results 14:54 Using Storebought Garlic For Planting 16:05 Adventures With Dale

[@moniquegebeline4350]

I planted mine a month ago (zone 9) I sprout the whole head in a small glass with a small bit of water then separate the (rooted) cloves and plant

[@tamilyn718]

Is it too late to plant garlic now in NC? Where did you get the bulbs in this video?

[@toddchaddick9135]

Can I plant garlic with other vegetables?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@toddchaddick9135 sure, as long as the roots don't compete and snuff each other out.

[@Iloveorganicgardening]

@@tamilyn718 I'm still putting some in here...zone 7B

[@sunnysharma1701]

garlic is rich in sulfur, it seems to prevent egg laying insects from making a nest in your soil and having repeated annual insect pressure.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

There definitely is something to it, because it works wonders until they’re harvested.

[@margiemurray2147]

​@@TheMillennialGardener if you wait and plant the little cloves around say your tomatoes leave them in after you harvest your large garlic bulbs and they can then keep protecting your tomatoes. Onions are another great companions too against insects. Happy planting from The Nana's of Central Florida

[@tinab7791]

I absolutely love how detailed you are. I feel confident now as I am getting ready to plant my first garlic this year.

[@famnet1996]

Just watched this and found it very helpful since my first attempt failed. Thanks and blessings for a prosperous garden

[@rkng1]

Cutting the garlic scapes also results in larger bulbs. I let the garlic bloom and the blooms attract pollinators. They then form what looks like miniature garlic cloves. I've read they're not useful but I let them drop to the ground and grow. They grow like crazy. I have garlic all over the garden. Some develop small heads and others develop small heads of garlic. I don't mind as they help keep my garden healthy

[@craftygirls6316]

Same Here, It keep coming back because of the flowers seeds that drops on the ground.

[@tamidavis3730]

Great idea and great video! I wish I would have seen this a few months ago- I usually plant my garlic in a big block but tomato stakes in between is a great idea. I plant my garlic in October in zone 4. Then I top dress with about an inch of compost from the chicken run. On top of that I put a few inches of chicken bedding (wood shaving based) direct from the coop. By spring it's breaking down acting as mulch to keep the weeds down and my bulbs get huge.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You could always go to the grocery store, buy a few heads of organic garlic for a couple bucks and plant them out in preparation for your tomatoes now. For the cost of $3-4, you could not only get the pest repellent benefits, but you'll get a ton more garlic! Just an idea.

[@tamidavis3730]

@@TheMillennialGardener true- I have some bulbs leftover from this year's harvest. I think the ground is frozen now tho. I'll have to check. I've never planted this late in the season but worth a try.

[@aslangh]

@@TheMillennialGardener Tami Davis What variety do you like to plant? I hear in northern zones like zones 3-4 some type of hard neck garlic 🧄 is best. Grocery stores mainly have soft neck I believe, but is there a good way to determine which type is at grocery store? I’m in zone 4 & am looking for garlic to plant now- Thanks!

[@cheesekake1841]

@@aslangh I think hard neck garlic is better for zone 3-4. Maybe you can find that garlic in local farmers markets? I bought mine from a local farmers market and a few more from Keene Garlic in Wisconsin.

[@Iloveorganicgardening]

@@aslangh the hardneck usually has the stem "neck" still attached and it has simular sized cloves lined up around the stem but the softness cloves are more varied in placement and size. Hope that helps!

[@SpiceyKy]

I plant garlic all over the place. Works wonders for organic pest control.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Garlic is one of those things that you can plant in any spare corner you can find. Just remember where it is. I lose my garlic all the time when it starts to die back 😅

[@kennethlatimer4607]

My friend. Thank you for the post. Now...enjoy your time with Dale.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.

[@donaldcowick4280]

I have heard from other sites that both a fall planting and another planting in spring gives you a complete season of pest mitigation. The spring garden planting gives smaller bulbs of garlic, so plant smaller cloves in the spring and enjoy garlic pesto.

[@AnnaBananaRepublic]

Garlic ANYTHING! I even had garlic ice cream once and it was legit. 🤘 🧄

[@abocas]

Enjoy watching all your videos packed with information. However, I am Scandinavian and living part time in Kenya. - With a number of "shambas", small plots of land for farming". I gave up doing it on a bigger scale years ago. So I just try to grow whatever I can for my own household (which is still a challenge) And it almost makes me sob whenever people bring purchased fertilizer and soil into the picture. Bc .... I don't really have access to that. I can forget about making my own compost bc there is always chicken or a hungry goat or cow around. So I take from your videos what I can and just grow the best I can. Hence, the pruning videos are quite helpful to me bc I can do that :-) The natural pest regulators are one of the best things I can take away from your videos. Peroxide, honey and stuff like that I can get We have what we have ... basically. Artificial fertilizer is - most times - a win in the lottery thing.

[@sandrareaves]

Your videos are so very helpful! You are one of my trusted go-to sources for trustworthy information. Good job!!!!

[@ironleatherwood1357]

I just learned that basil planted around tomatoes green peppers and eggplant to keep Hornworms away. Also I planted sunflowers and kept my tomatoes leaves trimmed for good circulation and the birds ate the Hornworms

[@chriswhinery925]

I've tried basil before and saw limited success. Hornworms still ravaged my plants. I'm in a house right now where the HOA doesn't allow us to do ANYTHING even in the back yard so I haven't been gardening but as soon as I buy my own home in a couple of years and get back to it I'll be trying garlic instead to see if it works better.

[@gd3design63]

HOAs are the worst! Can't wait till I can afford to move again some day. Also, I'm in same area as MG....and hornworms could care less about basil. Basil is 2-4 ft high and tomatoes are 6ft +....I get hornworm infestations unless I keep BT sprayed on tops of plants.

[@Danielseven-ir2mq]

Here in Denver CO we plant 🧄 in October. Working with 20 varieties of 🧄. Bringing awareness of diversity of 🧄. Enjoy this hobby. It's a $ crop.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That is an enormous collection of garlic. I imagine garlic would do well in much of Colorado. I know you guys have short seasons, but garlic probably thrives!

[@Danielseven-ir2mq]

@@TheMillennialGardener the world of 🧄 is beautiful. I bought it from Filaree garlic farm for $22 lb plus shipping. Selling for $20 lb. More demand than I can handle. Third president wrote. No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the Earth. I am devoted to the GARDEN.

[@valoriegriego5212]

This year I planted garlic with my tomatoes and I didn't have a lot of pests. 🙂 Dale is one handsome boy!🙂 I wish y'all a Merry Christmas!🙂

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Did you plant them at the same time? We have to plant them in the winter so they get enough cold exposure. By the time March rolls around, our frosts usually stop. Merry Christmas!

[@valoriegriego5212]

@@TheMillennialGardener This year I got my garlic planted the first week of November...which the Master Gardeners in our area tell us to plant our garlic. Before planting I did place my bulbs in the fridge for about a month and they are doing really well. I plan on planting more garlic when I plant my tomatoes...like you advise the bulbs won't get as big and that's okay. Thank you for so willingly and clearly sharing your knowledge. I have learned a lot from you...gonna be looking for a banana plant to add to our landscape next year.🙂

[@MadScientistSoap]

Your information is always so helpful. Thank you.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@mister-action1]

I planted my garlic last weekend. I hope I'm not to late. Here in Indiana. I did it the way you decribed. Watching again.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

In Indiana, I'm guessing your garlic needs to be planted either in the fall to establish, or in the late winter/early spring to establish, because the dead of winter is too cold? I'm not too familiar with climates where the ground freezes hard, if that's your climate. It has been a pretty mild winter everywhere outside of the PNW thanks to the La Nina setup, so it's entirely possible you'll be fine. Garlic is quite hardy!

[@mister-action1]

@@TheMillennialGardener I saved some to plant in the spring. In the refrigerator now. Will see how it Grows!

[@coolbananaboy5075]

Thanks for the videos, they're always excellent. Very true about the Marigold's. It has a negative effect here in Texas, too ... but there must be other locations where it works because folks say it works. Unrelated, but since I've owned free-ranging chickens I have far far less bugs. Now the challenge is keeping the chickens off the beds.

[@Danielseven-ir2mq]

Marigold's work well here in Denver CO. We grow many varieties. Short, medium and tall one's ( 4 feet ) Its a dry climate. Less pressure from pest, disease.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Marigolds definitely don’t work here. They attract more pests than they repel. They are moth magnets here in the south. I wish I could have a couple hens, but they’re explicitly banned in the HOA. Two hens would be a godsend here with all these bugs. Maybe one day when I can afford some land.

[@15SecondsWithMona]

@@TheMillennialGardener Hey it's Lisa in Pinehurst. The *&^% rabbits ate every marigold I planted last year, now I'm kinda glad. I may have to get a few more heads of garlic in the ground! I like your "sunglasses off" for filming btw

[@fmed2412]

Never knew tomatoes had such issues with pests since i never had any issues. I plant tomatoes in half of my 8x4 raised bed and garlic in the other half. That explains everything.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Tomatoes are probably *the* most disease-prone and pest-prone plants commonly grown in vegetable gardens. You must live in a very dry climate or short-summer climate 😂 Pest pressure on tomatoes is extreme in most of the country.

[@mysticalrose6576]

I plant tomatoes with basil, parsley, chives (or another allium) and marigolds (which don't seem to attract moths in my area). Haven't had a problem with pests.

[@warskye5686]

GREAT can you tell me about the board's you use are they treated.

[@mister-action1]

Thank you, lots of good tips!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@melissa5907]

Thinking I’m going to plant garlic around a young willow tree we’re trying to grow down by the lake at the cabin. It’s only 3 years old, and each summer it’s been getting demolished by aphids. How far from the young tree should I plant them? Would it be beneficial to not harvest them, and leave them to protect the tree from spring through fall? If that’s the case, would they keep regrowing each year?

[@timschannel910]

I just put some in for the first time in NC. So i will see how it goes.

[@SaltydogNC]

Great video. I usually plant Music garlic in late October. I had a bumper crop this spring. I have never tried interplanting. I usually have to fork the bulbs up even in a raised bed with soft dirt, so never considered it.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The interplanting really works wonders for me. I used to plant my garden in November, but doing so, it's ready for harvest in June. This means I'm pulling my garlic when the tomatoes just start really coming in. I pushed things back until December this year, hoping that'll keep the garlic in-ground til late June/early July so I get a longer protection from pests. If you want to try this method, you can just buy 3-4 heads of organic garlic for a couple bucks from the store, interplant a few now and see how it works for you.

[@michelleowens9838]

You just showed up on my feed today, (I'm not sure why it took so long) and I am now a new subscriber. Your information is clear and concise without excessive " fluff," and the way you present the info is very interesting. I'm on my way to do a mini-marathon on some of your other vids! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and making it compelling to watch! The Very Best to you and Yours!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! Thanks for watching and thanks for the kind words.

[@shannonz9211]

I wonder if bunching onions would work as well. They can b planted with tomatoes and stay for the duration of the growing season. I am going to try it. Thanks.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It wouldn't surprise me. Onions and garlic are both in the allium genus, and they share a lot of the same compounds. Will they work as well as garlic? That I can't say, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were helpful at keeping pest away. One of the downside with onions, though, is that they're huge compared to garlic and need more space. If your bunching onions are smaller, maybe they'll have benefit.

[@tomsmith2215]

I love green onion and plant a bunch of them in my garden in summer and don't have a ton of pests usually. In MA

[@mompuff6857]

All of your videos are very helpful!!! Thank you!!!

[@moirarussell1950]

Man... thanks for the marigold story! Haha Honestly thought I was the only one! People insisted it was me, so I tried it 3 times in 40 yrs. 🤣

[@user-dq9rr9mv3f]

So once you have at in July, what do you replace for pest control?

[@raym8158]

Great video! I would love to plant garlic between my tomato plants, but where I live at the Jersey shore, we're overrun with voles. They eat every root crop that you can plant including onion, garlic, carrots, and beats. They even ate the roots of rhubarb plants one year! I won't use poison and I have never figured a way of getting rid of them. You're lucky that you have a fenced in yard. We're also overrun with deer here, and no one can get rid of them either.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Do they not eat the tomato roots? Tomato roots are much larger than garlic roots, so it's odd to me that they would come after garlic but not tomatoes. Have you considered building 12 inch raised beds and attaching 1/2 inch steel hardware cloth to the bottom? If you do that, the roots will be able to grow through the mesh and access the dirt below, but the voles won't be able to get in under your raised beds.

[@raym8158]

@@TheMillennialGardener Yes, they actually killed one of my tomato plants this year, but normally they don't bother with them...I guess it leaves a bad taste in their mouths. I have watched carrot greens being pulled underground with audible crunching going on! They also don't normally eat broccoli, cabbage, melon, or arugula for some reason. There have been times when I felt like Bill Murray in Caddyshack only without any C-5 handy : ). For those that are unaware, I believe that voles are commonly called field mice. Unlike a regular mouse, they have a pointy nose and a stubby tail. When you see marks in your lawn that look like vericose veins, those were made by voles. Your suggestion about 1/2" steel hardware cloth is exactly on point. I did make 6 - 3' x 8' raised beds in another part of the yard in an 8' x 24 area. I made a 2' walkway in the middle with hardware cloth in the walkway as well. My intention is to finish that garden with a hoop house over it that is also covered with hardware cloth, thereby excluding deer and birds as well. That will definitely solve the problem there. The issue is that I grow the tomatoes in a 20' x 26' fenced in (deer protection) area. That is where I building the supports for them to grow on. To completely armor that area with raised beds with 1/2" steel hardware cloth would be a Herculean effort, not to mention the expense. BTW, they laugh at Moletox!

[@tracycrider7778]

1/4 in hardware cloth will fix the vole problem! Milky spore in fall get rid of beetle grubs, rid of voles!

[@MK-ti2oo]

We have millions of voles too, I wondered if they'd eat garlic. I have always planted in Raised bed with hardware cloth under it but I chanced trying onions in a ten inch raised bed without the hardware cloth with some tomatoes and dill and cilantro. Everything I've heard said nothing eats garlic or onions - they ate every onion. Then the tomato roots, dill and cilantro. A pest control guy told me to spray castor oil mixed with a castile soap like Dr bronners and it will push them out (or grow castor plants around the perimeter. I thought maybe I'd try the garlic in that bed assuming definitely nothing will eat them. Nope. Not chancing it now lol.

[@cheesekake1841]

Thanks for this video! Very good idea to plant garlic with tomatoes like this! After you harvest your garlic (normally this is done in June - July where I am), what do you do to prevent pests? Do you plant another crop of garlic or something else that also can keep bugs away from your tomatoes? Thanks again!

[@Livingsamsara]

I companion plant onions (green onions or even chives; any alliums) near tomatoes (or, if in a container, with my sun golds). I feel like it works because this year I made the mistake of being too eager with my tomatoes; didn't plant any alliums w/ tomatoes and found a hornworm - first time in few years. I had planted my garlic in it's own pot, not companion planting like I didn't know better; rookie error. THIS fall, I have garlic [along w/ garden sage and basil] in every freaking 20 gallon pot [ w/ kale, brussel sprouts, and onions] which sits quite near my bed gardens.

[@paulcarrier2424]

great vid! what do you recommend as a spring-summer amending routine?

[@deloresgutierrez1350]

Just subbed. I live in zone 13b! I will plant in November until everything dies from heat. Thanks for the info! 4:26

[@rach_o3045]

Thank you 🙏 🧄 I have found so much great information on your videos. I can’t wait to get my kiddos out in the garden. God bless and take care. 🧄🍓🌱🌻🌞🍅👩🏻‍🌾

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm glad to hear that! Thanks so much for watching!

[@sakkasper8870]

What's a timing, I planted the garlic bulb a few weeks ago, after doing some research about pest control with companion plants. Good to see what i've done was something right, and recommended by professional

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I wouldn't consider myself a professional by any means. I'm just a backyard gardener. By "timing," I mean you planted the garlic at the appropriate time so it matures alongside your tomatoes. If you have to harvest the garlic much before the tomatoes are ripe, you won't get the benefits since the garlic will be gone when the tomatoes are ripe and attracting pests.

[@GrowingSouth]

Good video and advice! I think a lot of people mess up growing garlic by growing the wrong type for their climate or not preparing it like you did, planting it at the wrong time of year, or harvesting too early. I have experienced positive results using basil between tomatoes and peppers to help repel insects - have you tried basil or have any experience with it ? :)

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You are correct. Garlic is *very* easy to grow, but it requires that you grow the proper garlic and plant it at the right time. Research what grows well in your area, plant it at the proper time, and it practically "grows itself." If you are unsure, trial multiple varieties. I've found Spanish Roja is outstanding on the Carolina coast despite being a hardneck. I'm still searching for a great softneck. Lorz Italian was good for me, but I want to try something new. Yes, I grow multiple types of basil. 2 years ago, basil grew well interplanted between my tomatoes, but last year, it didn't. I think the tomatoes compete too heavily with the basil, so this season, I will not plant it in between my tomatoes so tightly.

[@greatfulchristian4314]

Ty mg. I wish I would have seen this video before my garden is all chewed up from pests. Just awful. Ty I will be planting lots and lots garlic.

[@connieparker8896]

I planted basil next to my tomatoes, no cut worm ,, and a lot of prayer

[@AnteaterRae]

Funny that I just saw this video and basically did that exact same thing just the other day here in MI. Glad you suggested it, I must be doing something right.

[@JstcountryGirl]

@TheMillennialGardener Does your weed fabric go underneath your beds or is it just up against them?

[@aleciaatwood7829]

I really love your videos. So detail oriented! Also the Dale videos at the end. I have a couple of questions about companion gardening in 5 gallon buckets: (1) Do I plant a bulb of garlic IN the bucket with the tomato plant or do I plant the garlic in its own bucket between tomatoes and (2) How many bulbs?

[@carmellayates2503]

I'll be removing the marigolds tomorrow and plant garlic near my tomatoes . Thank you for this information. Zone 9A

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! I know marigolds work for some, but they do nothing but attract moths (and therefore worm outbreaks) for me.

[@hardstylzz5024]

Trader Joes has organic bulbs planted some end of Oct already have over 1ft high growth planted in 18 gal Galv containers

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Wow, that's big. In previous years, I planted my garlic in November, but I held off until December this season, because it always matures for me in early June. I want to stretch it out longer so it matures later in the summer so I get longer protection for my tomatoes. I think it's best to wait as long as possible so you get maximum protection from the garlic during the warm weather.

[@Tamarind525]

I live in zone 7a coastal Maryland, lots of pest pressure. I plant garlic in fall, harvest spring, and plant out tomatoes and solanacea after. Method still works, but prob not as well as interplanting. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@Nuno.Soares.GeoTagXplorer]

Sure learned allot with your video. Thanks for sharing. You got yourself a new subscriber.

[@jeffreybailey2442]

How long do I need to keep them in the fridge? Can I reduce time by using the freezer? I haven't started anything yet and I live in NC sandhills, near your area. I also agree, pests are off the chart here in NC....unbelievably bad.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I left mine in the fridge for 8 weeks. Since your climate is a bit cooler than mine, probably somewhere in the 4-8 week range will work for you. I've never used a freezer. "Chill hours" are actually defined as the amount of time plants spend between 32-45F, so temps below freezing actually don't count as chill hours! I don't know if frezing temps will benefit garlic, or if it will damage the garlic if it's kept at freezer temps (often 0F). That could destroy it...or maybe it won't? Not sure, but garlic storage for cold vernalization is done in the fridge, not the freezer. This video will help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqqylYaqnpKcfLs

[@vonries]

See I do get notified most of the time. Garlic doesn't do very well in my hot sandy soil, but I'm still trying to build organic matter.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They will likely grow well in a container full of potting mix or compost if that’s an option. They can be kept in a place with some afternoon shade, too.

[@vonries]

@@TheMillennialGardener Maybe I'll have to do a grow bag then.

[@melanieallen3655]

Planting garlic all makes sense!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I've had a lot of success with this method. It really works.

[@mohammadshahrahimi1986]

Great… instructions thanks

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@Ms.Communication101]

I just surrounded my watermelon patch with garlic. How long before the garlic will act as pest control?

[@mariacallison2584]

Do you use anything particular to make the holes for the garlic?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Just my finger.

[@pastaislovepastaislife]

My local home gardener actually use spicy chilli and garlic, cut dice and mix in water, spray as natural pesticides!

[@JWHealing]

Yeah I was thinking that's what he could do for the months after the garlic was harvested and not in the garden anymore.

[@dooorite]

Great job very helpful

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks! Glad it helped!

[@malinwestgate8580]

Thank you. Great lesson.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@rosedowling3690]

Great video...I plan on planting some this fall.. just wondering even in the hottest of hottest months here in TN my basement is ALWAYS cool I think cooler than my house LOL if I could grow them in pots down there.. I do have access to the sun right outside the door if need be ,,,any advice would be appreciated

[@susanf.8509]

I had problems with 1/4 to 1/2 in holes drilled in my tomatoes this year. I also had some animals that scooped out the whole inside of the tomatoes. Would garlic of helped with that ?

[@erikutube33]

Did the Makita drill help you make the holes?

[@shirleymanship6380]

Does the garlic need to have sprouts coming off before planting?

[@saadiaahmed3751]

Yr videos r always useful for me. Thank you I am from Cary NC

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad to hear that! Thank you for watching.

[@rebecca-xc5zv]

I have a big grasshopper problem. I used a garlic and onion “masking” spray on some brassicas and it works well. I am searching for other methods of dealing with grasshoppers if anyone has ideas

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Natural pyrethrin spray on a rotating 7-day routine keeps them at bay. Pyrethrin kills grasshoppers.

[@nastyoverlord9559]

does dale go nuts over bone meal? my dog constantly tries to eat/dig it up

[@TheMillennialGardener]

No. He sniffs it interestingly, same as fish emulsion, but he won't eat fertilizer. We cook most of his meals, so he doesn't really go after packaged food anymore. He knows what his food is and what isn't his food.

[@jupeisatrip8626]

Agreed! I will never plant marigolds or zinnias in the veggie beds ever again!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I guess it may be regional. In areas with bad moth pressure, they certainly can work against you.

[@kwise1700]

Great video! I am trying your method this fall. Where do you purchase your garlic seed from?

[@hadassahhaman7550]

Thank you!

[@linz-l9s]

Is it too late to plant garlic? I just came across your video and I would love to try this. caterpillars and mealy bugs destroyed my tomato plants (as well as most of my other plants) last year :( I live in Northern California (zone 9b)

[@jameswhite166]

What’s the difference in seed garlic and planting organic garlic from store?

[@chriswhinery925]

Well... variety, really. As long as the garlic at the store hasn't been sprayed with anything it's just normal garlic that you can plant like any other. The main downside is most stores only have one or two types of garlic so if you want something other than those you gotta go elsewhere.

[@cirish2223]

Love the closeup marigold comment!

[@tomyanno972]

I put garlic along-side everything here in the Low Country…winter, spring, summer….

[@CMDRSloma]

I wonder how long garlic can sit in the ground before appearing above. I planted three different varieties. Only one punched through after 2 months, I am kind of worried the rest will not sprout. All my varieties are hard neck, and my climate is on the wetter side with temps around freezing occasionally.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It depends on your climate. In cold soil, it can sit for months preserved. In my climate where the ground not only never freezes, but never gets colder than the 50's, it usually sprouts within 2-3 weeks. In my climate, if you don't see the cloves within a month, they're probably going to rot. Cold climates, they can sit for a long time since the cold soil preserves them.

[@padilla5]

I live in Puerto Rico so tomatoes and peppers ane in my vegetable garden all year round. I have been planting bunching onions on my beds and have reduced the need for neem by over 80%. Pests thrive in the tropics all year. This technique has worked well. I will try gralic on a couple of the beds. I have read thar onions and garlic should not be planted on the same beds or even used as alternaring crops on the same beds... I will research further. You may try bunching onions or other type of onions in a couple of beds to repel insects late summer. I first got the tip about using "any member of the inion or garlic family" to repel pests from an indian agronomist over 8 years ago. These plants have a substance that naturally fepels aphids and other bugs that typically destroy tomatoes & peppers. Not

[@padilla5]

Not evfective against slugs...😓

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I like the idea of the bunching onions. I am going to start onion seeds soon. I may interplant them with my pepper bed. It's a good space saver, too. This method isn't effective against everything. Slugs are mollusks, not insects, so that's probably why. For slugs, purchase Iron Phosphate. It is slug bait. It is very inexpensive, easy to find and will kill them without harming much anything else. I have *never* found neem to be good for anything but making my yard stink. I think it's one of the biggest snake-oil products. If it works for you, great, but for me, it's a total waste.

[@andreamurff4068]

Could you use a weak compost tea to fertilizer garlic?

[@lettucegobackinthyme1075]

Marigolds-No wonder I had worms eating my tomatoes!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️Do you know if garlic will work to repel grubs? I found some in the soil. Thanks for the information! 👍🏼

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I am not sure about that. Grubs are not a problem for me, because I spread bifenthrin granules on my yard a few times during the warm season. You may want to treat your lawn. I would never put the granules in my garden, but keeping the surrounding areas grub free may help reduce the population.

[@udoperkuhn7971]

I usually go to the local food coop (Tidal Creek here in Wilmington NC) and pick up a locally grown garlic bulb and plant the largest of the cloves. Rule of thumb down here is plant garlic first week of November. It needs to start growing and then die back from frost and it will restart growing in the spring. Inter-planting with Basil also helps. I've heard that both also impart some flavor into the tomatoes but that's up for debate. As the garlic grows you'll get scapes which you can trim off and use like scallions. Just a comment and a question, you are planting an awful lot of garlic (26 x 3 - 78+ bulbs?)! And I don't recall seeing any garlic in any of your video's with your tomatoes, just wondering if I missed something?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I've been growing garlic down here for 3 years. Granted, that isn't *that* long, but I've never seen any dieback. Garlic is so hardy (it stays evergreen where I used to live in NJ) that I don't think dieback is likely. I think first week of November is too early to plant garlic. The reason why you haven't seen garlic interplanted between the tomatoes in my garden is because I used to plant my garlic in November, and the problem is it matures too quickly. The garlic is ready for harvest when the tomatoes are just starting to turn colors. That is why I waited until December this year to plant my garlic. Not only will they get more immediate chill hours waiting until December, but it should delay the harvest deeper into the growing season, which is what I want. I should get more time out of my garlic now, which will help with the pest control longer-term.

[@charlescoker7752]

What if you grow just to deter pest. . Can you just leave the garlic all summer long?

[@sylvia10101]

Thank you for making this video. I learn alot from you. Always helpful! Merry Christmas to you and yours! 👍

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

[@sarahkirbach5040]

MG, I know you’re right about this, but, I actually had garlic and onion pests this year 😞 So, I had a bad garlic crop. So…I was thinking about how I can manage my garlic pests?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Garlic and onion pests? I assume you didn't grow pears that taste like garlic 😂 I've never had pests bother my alliums - what pests were they? How you treat the pests will depend on what the pests are.

[@sarahkirbach5040]

@@TheMillennialGardener haha, yeah I meant pests. I hope my pears next year don’t taste like garlic. Well, it’s tricky I cannot figure out what they are. I’ve looked and looked and researched and I’m still not sure. They were small white worms munching on the individual cloves - usually one per plant if there were any. I’m going to try spraying I guess when the leaves emerge - garden insect spray & then once once spring hits do a regular spraying schedule on them and see if that helps. Thanks for the reply! We live in the country and therefore have every possible pest you can imagine!

[@real5fifty]

Would green onions have that same effect? I don't want to plant anything now because I want to till in fresh soil and amendments right before I plant my tomatoes next spring.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I do not know for sure. They are both in the allium family, so they likely share a lot of the same compounds. You can try it with nothing to lose.

[@roserizzo3094]

Very clever!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you!

[@crystalcoveVR]

I planted my garlic similar to your methods in mid October. I wish I had planted a bit later but my little one arrived in late October so I couldn’t move around much toward the end of pregnancy.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Sometimes, the calendar isn't our friend 😅 In previous years, I planted it in November, but I held off until December this season, because it always matures for me in early June. I want to stretch it out longer so it matures later in the summer so I get longer protection for my tomatoes.

[@contestwill1556]

what do you suppose would happen if you left a few in the ground when you harvested your garlic?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It happens to me every year. I always miss a bunch. They re-sprout and grow new heads. I probably have a dozen coming up right now. They’ll make it through the winter and be ready early next year.

[@nateross14]

You can always replant Garlic as a pest deterrent anytime as Garlic greens that you harvest the tops continually and let them regrow. This might even be more effective as cutting the tops off will release garlic odor.

[@pondholloworchards]

Wonder if the same is true for elephant garlic because I have about 30 lb planted in the middle of the berryfield Field, if so no swd for me 🤞

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Elephant garlic is technically a leek, so that’s a good question. I’ve never grown it. Onions seem to resist pests as well, so there is a good chance.

[@pondholloworchards]

@@TheMillennialGardener yes sir I was thinking the same thing. Next year's going to be good. Keep fighting the good fight

[@conniedavidson1807]

This is my first year growing elephant garlic. I guess we will find out together if this works.

[@thx3188]

I wonder if the moths and marigold issue is a regional thing? I’m switching over to hyssop and alliums to attract pollinators next year but the past two seasons I saw nothing like that here in NH.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It could be different species, it could be a seasonal pattern, or both. We get moths much, much earlier than in New Hampshire. We have moths active while NH is still getting hard frosts, so it could be that when you get blooms on your marigolds, the moths aren't very active while down here, we're having the eggs laid blooming. Whatever it is, marigolds were a disaster for me, here.

[@barbaraabaunza6768]

Will it also keep deer away from the tomatoes or other plants?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The only thing that will keep deer away is fencing. No scent will keep a hungry deer away. Physical barriers are the only truly effective tool.

[@souzanir]

Hi. Wouldn't garlic deter earth worms? Thank you

[@TheMillennialGardener]

No. Earthworms live below the soil.

[@souzanir]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you.

[@rosedowling3690]

After harvesting your garlic in the spring when planting tomatoes etc then what? or do you continue to leave the garlic in ground? I'm guessing it would rot with summer watering.. just a little confused

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The garlic gets harvested in June, usually. It protects the tomatoes until it is harvested.

[@rosedowling3690]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank You

[@udoperkuhn7971]

Just wanted to add that the garlic will grow "scapes", if you don't cut them off it will flower and go to seed and you won't get a bulb from that plant but you will get a LOT of seeds from each flower. You can save and plant the seeds but it's much easier to just plant the largest cloves from a bulb so in my opinion not worth the effort. The other good side of cutting off the scapes is you can use them just like you would use fresh garlic and have it available to use earlier!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

This is true for the hardneck types. I had a few hardneck scapes seed my bed, and now I have some wild garlic volunteers growing, so I'm going to leave them in and see how they do. The softneck's don't really do this.

[@rosebraskett]

@@TheMillennialGardener I guess that's true for some softnecks as everyone says so, but my softnecks always scape. Wish someone like you would make a video about softnecks scapes.

[@rolandoberdote9363]

ammonium sulfate works great

[@nancynorris1084]

Will garlic interplanted among squash repel the dreaded squash vine borer? Otherwise, I’m done with squash!

[@TheGiddyGardener]

Would this be true as a deer repellent too?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I wouldn’t think in-ground garlic would keep deer off. Maybe if you made some kind of spray out of extract and cayenne pepper or something caustic. Given how persistent deer are, it takes a lot to keep them away.

[@davejoseph5615]

I don't normally have any pests bothering my tomatoes unless I see missing leaves -- and need to find and remove one or more caterpillars which I then relocate to the bird feeder. Other plants such as squash attract those nasty invasive stinkbugs which I hate.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Here in the south, the insect pests pressure is severe. Stink bugs and leaf footed bugs are a nightmare. The garlic really seems to keep them away. We also have periodic cabbage worm and hornworm blooms, but they’re easier to manage with spinosad if you’re vigilant and keep the breeding cycle at bay. The hard-bodied beetle-type pests are almost impossible to defeat.

[@marandlen]

Can you post a link where we can get Organic garlic?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Most of the time I order my seed garlic thru Burpee. Garlic season is typically in fall, so it may be harder to source during April.

[@marandlen]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks. will look for it then.

[@franciscopolizzi]

Great video. Where did you buy those garlics online

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I usually buy from Burpee.

[@donnayoung5942]

My favorite place is MIGardener.

[@johnfrancis6940]

Last year was our first year with garlic, and it did poorly. A lot had to do with the type of garlic, and when we planted it. Seems our local big box stores don't send out seed garlic for specific areas, didn't know that - also explains the weak sauce onions last year. This year we were going to wait until early Feb, but I think a rework of the garden plan to do it this way will work out better. I bought hard neck bulbs, and we are going to try elephant garlic this year as well. For the pest mitigation, a friend sent me some Egyptian walking onions, and I planted them with our bell peppers and the only thing that got to them this year were squirrels, so that might be something, I'll run the experiment again this year to see if I can prove anything, or if it was just because the peppers were in 5 gallon containers.... For the onions, I bought some seeds that are short day, getting ready to start those indoors in a week or so.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Garlic, onions, and potatoes are things I don't recommend buying from big box stores. Unless you know for a fact those varieties work, or you frequent the stores so often that you know they *just* got delivered because they weren't there last week, I wouldn't buy them. The stuff they get is often mass-produced, generic stuff that not only may not be good for your location, but they may be old and dried out. I recommend ordering your seed garlic, seed potatoes, and onions from reputable seed companies. You'll get more variety, and the descriptions will help you determine what's best for your unique situation. I like the idea of interplanting onions and peppers. The peppers will eventually grow and become shade for the onions during the warmest parts of the year. That sounds like a pretty good idea 🤔

[@mvargojr]

The pup! Haha

[@centradragon]

I wish the alium leaf miner fly wasn’t so invasive in the eastern US - lost my entire garlic/shallot crop last spring. I was so upset I ripped up everything and skipped the whole season. Previous years I could grow garlic with zero effort. 😢 No idea how people tolerate this sort of setback!

[@moniquegebeline4350]

So I have chives and shallots under my citrus and fruit trees and plant nasturtium, zinnia and calendula with my tomatoes and peppers etc- another great interplanting I have strawberries in the asparagus bed and sweet potatoes under the bananas. I wanted to edit this- Companion planting isn’t always for insect control some plants complement each other (or interfere with) growth as well . a great book is carrots love tomatoes but I tend to like the information that older more experienced gardeners and old wives tales give me 😂

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I was thinking about planting strawberries under my fig trees as a ground cover, but I decided against because the fig trees send so many surface roots and prefer a heavy compost and mulch layer. I imagine if you are growing ornamental trees that don't have a lot of surface roots or like a thick mulch layer, strawberries would make great ground cover.

[@Just_An_Idea_For_Consideration]

How do you preserve garlic until next season so you can plant it?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You would have to store it in a very cool, dry, low light place. Organically grown garlic will store for several months, but it will eventually sprout. Optimal conditions, like in a 40-50 degree root cellar, would be ideal. If you don't have that, it may require refrigeration. Even then, it isn't guaranteed.

[@richardfoust2815]

Says "insect pressure is off the charts" while an insect is buzzing next to his head--perfect!

[@LegionOfShrooms]

My grandma swore by it. Now I got it in my other grandmas garden.

[@conniedavidson1807]

Those small cloves come into the kitchen to use cooking.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That’s also an option. They all germinated, though. The heads won’t be as large, but I’ll get a few dozen cloves out of the deal.