Planting Garlic-- Top Tips for Success!

[@flatlander2743]

As I get older (I'm 70) I'm getting lazier with my gardening. As it would take more effort to find my garlic bibles in the madhouse I live in then I feel like expending, I think I'll follow Jenna's advice this year. I'll be trialing: 'Long Bow Red' and 'French Grey' shallots, and 'St. Helens', 'Jupiter' and 'Hadrut' garlic from Adaptive Seeds as well as 'Bavarian Purple' and 'Metechi' garlic from Territorial's in 100 gallon Rubbermaid stock tanks using Espoma's Bulb-Tone. I also have some 'Red Dutch' shallots and 'German White' garlic I grew last year that I might plant if I have room enough. Years ago I followed the advice of a local garlic farmer and did vinegar, baking soda and rubbing alcohol soaks before planting. Not having liquid fish fertilizer on hand I skipped that soak. I also skipped foliar fertilizing and side dressing during the season. I didn't bother to water during the growing season. Nor did I mulch. Though I did hill the rows at least 8" higher than the rest of the garden. My harvests were comparable to the commercial grower's.

[@brianseybert2189]

Never planted garlic before. My eclectic, gardener neighbor passed away last fall (Martin). He always had garlic, long story short, the people who were cleaning up the property this summer chopped down all of his garlic not knowing what it was, so I went over there and dug up as much as I could find and that is the garlic I planted this fall. Trying to keep Martins legacy going. I also picked up a large volunteer tomato in his yard I saved the seeds and will plant next year. I will name them both the Martin tomato and Martin garlic. Actually Martin developed several tomato and garlic varieties and sold them on the internet. His passing was unexpected so I never really got that much specific info on the plants he developed. Off subject... This is when I start baiting in earnest for the voles. Since I fired my cat and took his job over my potatoes were untouched this year. Unfortunately the jumping worms did effect my potato bed. One of the worse thing the jumping worms do is they break down the organic material so quickly the plants do not get all the nutrients and they just wash away. The other thing I noticed was the absence of all the red worms I introduced to my bed. I think the jumping worms just out compete the other worms. Have a warm and loving Thanksgiving.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm sure Martin would be very pleased that you are preserving his garlic & tomato! And thanks for the reminder- I also need to start baiting for voles. The voles and the moles are absolutely terrible here this fall. We finally got a little precipitation and they are back in full force. I hope you & yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!

[@brianseybert2189]

@@GrowfullywithJenna I was in the pest control industry for almost 40 years. When moving to WI from Chicago, I discovered moles for the first time. I began taking care of moles with spring loaded spear traps, then for many reasons went to using an effective bait from Bell Laboratories. The material is called Talpirid and is available on line. The best time to use it is in the early spring when the tunnels first appear in your soil. If interested I can tutor you more in the spring. Happy Thanksgiving.!

[@fullcontactgardening6191]

Northwest Ohio gardener here. This is my second year growing garlic. This year I planted mostly garlic I grew last year (Music I bought from Etsy actually - didn't want to spend a lot because it was my first time), but didn't have enough to replant after eating most of my harvest so got some more at a local farmers market figuring if they grew it here, I can too (got more Music and Metechi). I also have clay and did mound my beds, planted in mid-November and covered with compost and a thick layer of ground leaves and grew huge bulbs. Never soaked them or even watered them, just set it and forget it. Hoping to be as successful as I was last year. Be mindful of where you plant them since it will be in the ground later than you will want to plant many summer crops. I just added more compost and threw green beans into my garlic bed after harvest and still had plenty of time to harvest lots of beans.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You're right about the timing-- Beans are a great followup crop to garlic!

[@missymyers7043]

@@GrowfullywithJennaHow did your garlic (soaked vs regular) turn out? Did you do a follow up video or report? Getting ready to plant in Massachusetts and wondering the results. Thank you!

[@Sasbeans2810]

Thanks so much for this video! I've followed you for awhile now and whenever I have a question about something in my garden, you always have the answer! I'm in zone 6b in Ohio so it's as close to my climate as I can get!!

[@ourcozygarden]

First time hearing about soaking garlic before planting. Good to learn something new!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm very curious to see how it turns out!

[@franksinatra1070]

I don't have a lot of history growing garlic but last year I had a nice crop of 40 heads. All I did was add some compost and plant and then mulch. I don't think I added any fertilizer at all and my heads were all a nice size. Last year I planted Oct 20th and they began to grow in Nov so I went with Oct 25th this year and put plenty of chopped leaves on top. I hope the do as good as last year. And I tried a soft neck this year - Inchelium Red. The other varieties were Extra Hardy German, Chesnok Red, and Music. Good luck to all garlic planters.

[@dustyflats3832]

I agree that we had a long Indian summer. I planted October 5th Z5a and some are up 5”, but others said not to worry. I put more mulch on to protect from heating up too much from cold nights. Thankfully we will be cold now. I didn’t fertilize the new beds right now, but will add bonemeal and blood meal soon as I didn’t want to encourage more growth. Will plant at end of October next year. I once planted spring bulbs in snow in December and they were fine.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad to hear it, Frank! A lot of it has to do with how fertile your native soil is start with, so perhaps you had plenty of good stuff that the garlic wanted already in your soil! I hope this years crop does great

[@bernicetamkin5402]

Another great video…and I grew garlic for the first time last winter and didn’t do ANY of the things you suggested. I used grocery story garlic, did not soak or mulch. I did grow it in a raised bed and I think all of them produced, though the cloves were not super large. So using your tips should really bring an improvement. Thank you!

[@gardeningjunkie2267]

My biggest problem was planting garlic in what was to be my tomato beds. This delayed my tomatoes going in on time and so I was at least a month behind. It's very important to figure out the space where you're planting and how much time you can give it, in that particular location. Pulling it up too soon, will give you very small bulbs.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Very, very true! I think a lot of folks run into this problem. I usually plan to just use my garlic bed for fall crops once the garlic is harvested, and that timing works out well.

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

I have a set up of concrete wash basins two feet off the ground 8'x3' that drain easily and have amended soil that's 20 years old. they grow everything very well. i may put hoops and plastic this spring to get the season moving. otherwise i start seeds in $120 greenhouses, that stay pretty warm all winter with no heater. The critters eat more of my garden than i do, but i'm skinny anyway..

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Sounds great!

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

@@GrowfullywithJenna its a tiny ecosystem that has its own climate the majority of the year.

[@CarolinaOmaSteph]

I just planted up some Amish, Chesnok and Russian Red Garlic from Keene Garlic Store. Thank you for all the information. I will be ordering from them once again. I have followed their advice with no issues.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Nice! Best wishes for a wonderful harvest come next summer!

[@emullinsstreams]

6B southern Ohio here! I ordered garlic from Filaree farms for the first time this year, and it's the second year I'm planting in the fall. Last year I planted in half-barrel planters, but this year I planted in raised beds and topped them with dried leaves. Doing Romanian Red and Chesnok Red, and hoping for larger bulbs than last year. I didn't think to add fertilizer when planting, though...

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I forgot to mention Filaree in this video- but they're one a buy garlic from every year. Excellent quality!

[@tytheplantguy]

The weather was really warm until yesterday. We're expecting snow tonight in Erie PA. My garlic has been planted since early Oct. I should have waited a lil longer.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

This weather is crazy! Low 70s the day I filmed this video and 2 days later we had snow and we're dropping down into the teens by Friday! I've planted in October before and my garlic has been fine, so I suspect yours will be OK!

[@whitke5504]

My knees get sore just watching yours in the wet soil lol! Get a garden mat, you’ll thank me in you 40’s👍. Great video!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Haha- kneeling on the soil never bothers me, but my wood chip paths are not always so fun! The irony is, I do have a kneeler, but I never think to get it out and use it 😆.

[@_Boregard_Rippy_]

... you have nice traditional gardens and grew alot of cool stuff .. TY ..!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

love garlic, onions, peppers. make winter spicy!🙂

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Oh yes!

[@ForestHealth]

Brother poured bucket of wood ash on snow, he didn't knew that winter garlic was planted under. But those garlics grew like crazy! In general i use a lot of wood ash, also helped to alkalize one garden so that beetroots can grow. Beets don't like acidic, as you surely know :) Thank you for the shared knowledge!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Good to know!

[@joannak4640]

You are so knowledgeable and I find myself sharing your videos A LOT ❤️ Love you, girl

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you so much, Joanna!

[@MaggiePhigeland]

Hi Jenna I never had any success with mine because I didn't follow these guidelines hopefully next year .Thank you so much from Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Best of luck, Maggie!

[@JulesGardening]

Good one Jenna. Enjoyed the hardneck versus softneck conversation. And heck, once you get your garlic going, you plant your own, year after year. ;) Happy weekend, Jenna. 👍

[@JulesGardening]

And good luck with that soaking experiment, too. We do not soak. Planted 104 last year and had 97 hits. Good enough. ;)

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks! And yes- I really think keeping your own strain going is the way to go for most folks. I'm with you on the soaking- I've always felt like my results were good enough without the extra step... but just had to do it for curiosity's sake 😆. My gut is that the soaking would help in some growing areas more than others, and that I won't see much a difference if any. But I could be wrong!

[@yomommacello]

Just discovered this channel. Im a beginner gardener and I live in a condo in Chicago. Hoping whenever I do move to have a lush garden like yours. Ohio and Illinois are very similar so I’ll be studying your videos a lot.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I hope you get your dream garden soon!

[@VV-xy8dj]

I am growing an unknown hardneck that I picked up from Yutzys this year, first time I have grown something not purchased from a seed catalog. We'll see!!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I hope it does well for you!

[@johnjude2685]

Garlic I planted about a month past here Columbus Ohio and rain didn't stop since before daylight and 9:00 pm having not stop slowly but soaking says it's coming till after daylight over a inch around 5:00 pm. I'm planning my row of Garlic between my peppers and the smell suppose to keep bugs from peppers and mid season the peppers provides shade for Garlic. A win win Thanks for teaching me this last 2 season and 4 inch of mixture of my mulch will help Garlic and bells

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Wow! Glad you got some nice rain. We got snow here today- I think more preciptation total than the tiny amount of rain I got yesterday!

[@johnjude2685]

1.5 more than the last 2.5 months for shur Carrots tiny but belive they are cold tuff so they stay out for a while longer or give seeds in spring Thank you

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

@@johnjude2685 They are suprisingly cold hardy!

[@robertadcox8419]

I am going to give garlic a try. Never raised garlic despite using it a lot in cooking.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Yes! You definitely should!

[@robertadcox8419]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Lesson #1 Get your bulbs early. Took a little surfing but found some bulbs online. Wow, garlic is very popular. Must be a lot of people fending off vampires out there. LOL

[@jrsharp]

Thank you for the tips. Definitely going to mulch with straw. We're rolling the dice, using Kroger organic garlic for our first attempt at a garlic harvest. So far, so good with 6-8" tall sprouts. Look forward to seeing your (and hopefully our) harvest next year!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Hope you get a great harvest!

[@michaelmarchione3408]

I never thought to plant garlic in raised mounds. That might have been my problem. I also never have soaked the clovers...seems like a lot of extra work. But I've have done everything else. Once the beds start to warm up and the garlic sprouts, all is well. The within two weeks they always rot. Maybe the drainage because of spring rains? The raised beds are nice and fluffy. Enjoyed, take care!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

It's made a huge difference for me. We've had so many overly wet springs here, and in combination with my clay rich soil which doesn't always drain the best, if I don't elevate them a bit mine will often rot as well. I'd highly encourage you to try it!

[@rebeccagraf2962]

I love that you do and share with us your experiments. Very helpful!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks!

[@kittiew260]

Great video Jenna. I just planted mine in NW PA about a week ago & wondered if it was too late. Glad to see your still planting.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks, Kittie! I didn't even get them all planted, so I'm hoping to put more out within the next month!

[@bdwon]

In Central Texas the folklore says, plant on the shortest day of the year. Harvest on the longest.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Interesting! Seems like that timing would just about work out perfectly for Central Texas!

[@bdwon]

@@GrowfullywithJenna It had to work for it to stick around as folklore, Jenna; otherwise, the folkloric farmers would have had all their garlic plantings fail, and they'd have no protection from the Vampires! ;-)

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

@@bdwon 😆

[@Czibs111]

Thank you Jenna! I have had several home remodel projects going at once so I haven't gotten around to planting my garlic yet😮 but you have confirmed my suspicions! I can still plant without worry (i am an Ohio Gardner too) !!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You’re welcome! I’ve still got more to plant too. I hope this cold breaks soon so I can get back out there!

[@Czibs111]

@@GrowfullywithJenna looks like next Thursday ? Maybe

[@lynnlovessoil]

Perfect timing, thanks.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You're welcome!

[@dustyflats3832]

Lol! I’m sure it’s much colder today. I also ordered the variety pack from our local nursery Jungs. They were huge bulbs of hardneck. Hopefully all will do well so I can replant the following year as they are expensive. Varieties include: Spanish Roja, Red Chesnick, Musik, Northern White, Vietnamese Red, German Porcelain. I think I planted a bit too early because some are up about 5” so I mulched heavily. We had a long warm Indian summer. Well, it’s officially cold now and that should slow them down-30’s/day, teens to 20’s night Z5a. I’m also trying long beds like you for ease of irrigation and more useful space. Edged some with logs and not sure what else as the sand tends to erode and needs something to hold it in place. I threw everything into the long beds except manure and dug the path soil to place on top then filled in paths with bark. After a few years I may shift the rows to land on the bark paths. It’s so dry here that I think long and low beds is best. We had some hose and pex line given to us and definitely fashioning some kind of irrigation system from them. Excited to see what these varieties will do. Lol! I put markers in and wrote down varieties in my garden book, but when I got to the end I lost track🤣because I didn’t mark the end. I didn’t figure this out until I was finishing the long bed and I dug into them🤣🤣 Your soaking test will be interesting. Never heard of it till this year.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Oh my goodness! So much colder and SNOW! Those green sprouts will die back and the garlic will go dormant this winter- but not to worry- it'll sprout back again in the spring. I'd love to know which variety (or varieties) you end up liking the best!

[@dustyflats3832]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Thank you, and yes, I follow your channel and will let you know which varieties were best for our Z5a, WI. I grew first time last year a couple soft neck, but all hard neck this year. Will dehydrate for longer preservation as they are said to not keep as long as soft. Times the season for ear muffs and scarves 🌬💨❄️❄️❄️❄️☃️☃️☃️ Just seen another prediction for polar vortex this winter-make sure to bundle up new plantings, fruit, roses and some burlap on boxwoods and other dwarf conifers.

[@boonmsgt]

Awesome video. I have not grown garlic yet. May give it a shot. Thanks Jenna

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You should!

[@breehenson1316]

Going to try some of those vareities next year thanks

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I hope you do, Bree!

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

Great tips! I finally put all mine in its reserved raised bed last week. I am a regular Keene garlic user and followed their process to a T. I had pretty good results and reused the largest cloves. I did purchase a new batch this year, but unlike years past I chose to not sterilize/soak the cloves. I will however feed them more and mulch properly throughout the growing season.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad to hear you got yours planted!

[@DRFelGood]

Thank you for sharing this inspiring information Jenna ❤ xo, ✌️ Jesse

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks for watching!

[@justsomeguy6133]

Have you ever dealt with brooming? Brooming is when the developing cloves, before maturity, sprout green shoots up through the growing stalk. The cloves then won’t store well or size up properly. It happened to about 75% of my garlic this past year. From what I understand, it’s caused by either excessive nitrogen over the winter or extreme temperature fluctuations.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I have not. What do you think caused yours- was it the nitrogen or the weather?

[@justsomeguy6133]

I did put a LOT of compost down, but we did have temp swings. But we’ve had similar winters prior to that where I didn’t have that issue, so I do wonder if it was the nitrogen. I did some experimenting this year with some control groups to see if anything happens.

[@gardeningwithprincess]

I'm in the south. Garlic is best planted in fall. Spring doesn't give us enough cold days for the bulbs to develop properly. Not where I am anyway (Southaven/Memphis). I always plant in October.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks for the advice! I'm curious if the ground freezes during the winter where you garden? From what I understand the late winter/very early spring planting is only for Southern areas where the ground does not freeze at all. Another Southerner-- @Jules Gardening Tips in Zone 7 mentioned that he plants on basically the same schedule that I do here in Ohio, but his ground freezes.

[@nickthegardener.1120]

I just planted garlic with mychorizal fungi powder, hopefully works well.👍🍄🤠

[@MootElm]

I watched a TON of garlic videos and this one has got to be one of the best ones that I have seen in a while, thank you and I look forward to your soaking experiment results next year, just subscribed. I also tried soaking for the first time this fall but did it with all my garlic. I used a tbsp of baking soda per litre of water though but only soaked no more than 2 hrs in that baking soda and liquid fertilizer mix.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm so glad to hear this- thank you! And I'd love to hear how your soaked garlic turns out!

[@brandonmonroe7050]

Nice. Was there a follow up video of soaked garlic vs unsoaked? I'm not able to find it.

[@forgivenangel7]

No! I planted my garlic yesterday. I don't want to watch this and find out I did everything wrong. 😅 Ok. Gonna go watch it now.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm sure you did not do everything wrong!

[@youngchemist]

Thanks for your this information

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You're welcome!

[@sanchezable]

How was your garlic soak experiment.

[@TheGardenFamily]

Thanks for the great tips Jenna. Maybe we will try a late planting in December if we can get our beds ready!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I might do the same (still have a lot I didn't get planted) - my dad has planted close to Christmas and had good results!

[@mantzbrinkman4780]

Hi Jenna, I hope you are doing well!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Hello! I am-- hope you are too!

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

I grow Chesnok Red, and an Aldi's hardneck variety that came from Spain--no idea the name, but Spain's at the same basic latitude as us in Ohio so it grows fine.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Oh nice- I'll have to peak at my local Aldi's- glad they're shaking it up with a different variety!

[@Ed19601]

I hesitate to bring up supermarket garlic again, i do agree with many things you say on that, but there is the question of economics. A bulb of German white will cost me 2 euro's, not counting P&P. A bol of biologic (i.e. untreated) supermarket hardneck garlic that is grown in my own country (so it is for the right climate) will cost me 60 cts and no P&P. The latter may give smaller bulbs, but i don't grow for shows, and it still gives me a ton of garlic. I have started saving my biggest cloves of my harvested grocery store garlic and my bulb size increased. I have only bought growers garlic once and though it did well, i didn't really see a huge difference in size. I plant about 1200 cloves a year, and it cuts my cost with more than 60% and i still get a ton of garlic. I will try different grower bought cloves from time to time, but my grocery store variety (and its descendants) are still my bulk, if any voor economical reasons. All yr other tips: great

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

If it works for you, I'm very glad!

[@TheSdecker2]

You're fantastic. Thanks!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@poodledaddles1091]

Loved this… I planted music!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That's a good one!

[@donnacotter7572]

This is only my second year growing garlic. Unfortunately as you know, my last year's garlic and onions were pulled and trashed due to an allium leaf miner infestation. I followed Keene's Garlic instructions for planting last year and this year. I also am using their organic garlic fertilizer. I'm anxious to see the results from your experiment to see how much it helps. From what I've read from other gardeners though, many just stick the cloves in the ground and get good harvests and that the size of the clove seems to matter most in their opinions. My problem is planting too early. Our frost dates are so unpredictable in SE PA. I think I'll shoot for November next year.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I do recall, Donna and that stinks! Which of the preventative tactics mentioned in the PennState article you sent me are you using?

[@donnacotter7572]

​@@GrowfullywithJenna It does stink! I was told not to plant in the same spot, so my alliums will be in the farthest bed from the site of the infestation. My garden is small, so that really isn't that far, though.I plan to use insect netting starting in the early Spring and through the seven weeks or so when the adults are flying and invading crops. However, I neglected to use the netting when I planted my garlic this Fall. I forgot that they become active at that time as well. So, regardless of these measures, I'll have to look out for the damage and try to treat them if there is signs of trouble. I read that Spinosad is useful, and I'm looking into that. Last year, they were too far gone to treat.

[@meetasingh2612]

Jenna I have been enchanted by your flawless diction, attractive voice and clear cut instructions. God give you long life to serve the cause of organic gardening. I have a small farm in North India and would like to stick to no dig gardening. I am in favour of terminating cover crops/winter rye with a weed whacker but do not want to disturb the soil by tilling the terminated crop into the soil. I would prefer to leave the roots in the soil . Please suggest how I can get the best benefit from the terminated cover crops Lakhinder Bir Singh

[@MichaelJosephJr934]

You're the best!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

😊 thanks!

[@michaellippmann4474]

All great tips and Thank you for doing the video Jenna. Pretty much on same page as you but I rarely do more than apply home made compost and about 6" of chopped leaves and grass clippings after planting. This year I put 280 or so into the ground in raised beds. Always have a great harvest...mostly Music variety and Red Russian, and yes we always plant the biggest bulbs and eat the rest. This year I scattered some blood meal down before the mulch but only because someone gave me a bag...I am too cheap to buy fertilizer! Harvest this year was one of our best and had a bunch of heads about 3+" across in size! In the spring when the garlic is about 6" high I re-mulch with about 2 - 3" of fresh grass clippings. Always seems to give them a little nitrogen boost and some fast growth. We love our garlic and use some at almost every meal and have just enough to replant every fall and get us to garlic scape season every summer! Have a great day young lady and Thanks for doing the video! Mike 🇨🇦

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Excellent, Mike! Thanks for sharing this!

[@Javaman92]

I realized a rather striking difference from my thoughts on gardening and yours in this video. I don't spend extra money on store bought anything on my garden. I feel it negates one important benefit of my growing my own, the savings. If I spend more on amendments than I would on simply buying the crop then I can find something else to do with my time. Thankfully I have found that my garden gets by quite nicely on what I can provide for it. I wonder if you could tally up the cost of soaking and amending the garlic? Just a thought, curious minds and all. ;-) Other than that I do basically the same thing as you when planting, except that I put my garlic in a week ago. I just couldn't believe that we would get such a continuation of warm weather than we have. But that said, snow is forecast for next Thursday here. I expect the ground to be somewhat frozen by the end of the first week of December. I'm still learning the area however.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I think a lot of folks would agree with you, that they prefer to garden with no store bought inputs. But I do find in soil that are depleted, natural fertililzer is the way to go (at least for a while, until you've rejuvanted the soil), unless you want to make your own plant foods (which I need to do more of... though just the additional of animal manure or compost is enough sometimes). Since I have relatively little cost in my fertilizer and use it sparingly, it's a worthwhile splurge for me. I would encourage gardeners to let their plants tell them what they need- if everything is healthy and bountiful there is no reason at all to add extraneous fertilizer. I'm glad I got my garlic in-- we got hit with snow today!

[@Javaman92]

@@GrowfullywithJenna WOW you got snow today! I'm farther north than you, right on the shore of Lake Ontario, which is probably why it was warmer here, in the 50s. That is changing however. And yes, if someone let their soil be depleted they need to do whatever to fix it, and organic fertilizer is the way to go.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

@@Javaman92 Yep, snow and cold, cold, cold (into the teens by Friday). Wasn't quite ready for it yet, but Mother Nature waits for no man (or woman)

[@gardenstatesowandsew]

Thank you ❤

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You're welcome 😊

[@outwest100az]

Southern AZ first time garlic softneck planting in 8 inch deep pot. I put my bulbs in 5 inches apart 5 plants in the pot. How long before I see it break ground? Transylvania variety said good for the desert southwest. It has been two weeks, am I jumping the gun on seeing anything yet. Great video. I garden twice every year but never did garlic so very exciting. I will subscribe and all the best.

[@swagatabhattacharyya987]

Thanks for the tips. I am trying hardneck for the first time this year. How did the soaked ones perform for you as compared to the ones you didn't soak?

[@feliciacarter1962]

I just amend the soil and replant the large one. They are massive cloves

[@anthonydallalio5716]

Hi Jenna, like you, I am in southwest Ohio and just got the snow you were talking about. I was glad you mentioned that they’ll survive because my garlic was about 3 to 4 inches tall and I thought it might get hurt by the snow in the freeze. At any rate, you mentioned that you have several favorite varieties can you tell me what your favorite varieties are? Particularly because I live here in southern Ohio zone 6A. Thank you and I really enjoy all of your videos. So many things I watch on KZbin are from people who live in very mild zones and just don’t fit with my clay, flooded springs and hot summers lol😂😂

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Hi Anthony! I talk about some of the varieties I've had the most succes with at 02:56

[@anthonydallalio5716]

@@GrowfullywithJenna OMG, I am sorry. I watched the whole video and somehow missed that???? Thank you for your quick response.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

@@anthonydallalio5716 No worries at all!

[@mikeconley9590]

I planted garlic last week and then the elephant garlic I planted ( and thought they had died) two years ago popped up the next day. Good stuff!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Oh wow!

[@kurtwalters5346]

Hi Jenna love following you for gardening tips, you've been a great help...question for you...I live in ct. 6a, I planted my garlic 3 weeks ago, and we've had crazy warm weather and they all sprouted and started growing...should I cut them back or let them go...Thanks for all your great videos...Kurt

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Let them go. Those tops may freeze back when cold weather hits, but as long as they have a decent root system developing, this won't hurt them.

[@kurtwalters5346]

Thank you

[@jessegandee1162]

great advice 😅

[@bhalliwell2191]

My garlic gets planted in northeast Ohio, about one mile as the crow flies from Lake Erie. The first time I attempted growing garlic, I ignored the conventional wisdom and planted a soft neck variety and it seemed to have been very happy because it gave me a respectable, acceptable harvest. I've done the soak, using a solution of fish or fish-and-seaweed and water plus baking soda; might have obtained it from Keene's website. Didn't do the initial soak in hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, just the fertilizer solution plus baking soda. Can't say that made things better, but it seems not to have done any harm. We do get a lot of ground heave here, with the you-can-bank-on-it freeze and thaw just about all winter long. It's my belief that my favored soft neck garlic varieties have done as well as they have because at the bottom of the garden is someone else's cinder block five-car garage wall (this is not a well-to-do neighborhood and I know there aren't any cars in that structure, today, but about a century ago, that property was part of someone's estate) which stores and reflects some heat; on another side is a large, long, low commercial building which puts out a little bit of heat, and on the third side of the garden is a neighbor's garage-workshop, which is heated in the wintertime. Last side is my house. The effect is to create a micro-climate only a few degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the neighborhood in general, but as you know for plants that can be a world of difference. One more point I'd like to bring up, especially for the newer garlic-growers is this: stock matters. Find a source---this can take a while---that sells good, robust, healthy stock, offering big, fat heads of garlic with tight skins, good color (whatever it's supposed to be) on big, sturdy cloves. (In fact, some garlic farm websites will tell you to plant the big cloves, and use smaller inner cloves for cooking.) Well worth the investment. So glad you posted this video, Jenna. This week is going to be the first chance I'll have had to get my garlic into the ground and I had been fretting a bit over whether it was too late in the year to plant garlic; I've never planted it so late before. Much gardening love from NEO!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Very helpful tips! Do you recall which variety of softneck you have planted specifically? I was looking back at my notes and noticed that in addition to Silver White, a variety called Great Lakes softneck did well for me too.

[@bhalliwell2191]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Your tips are better, I think. For instance, I've never mulched the garlic intentionally; sometimes dried, dead leaves from the neighborhood (I have trees, but very little in the way of fallen leaves lands and stays) will get blown onto beds but those aren't a thick layer and it's a real roll of the dice anyway whether there will be leaves to cover beds.) Recall specifically? Yes, ma'am, I certainly do! Because it was the first garlic I ever grew and it was successful, I was and am in love with Inchelium Red. Also liked its story (found on the Colville Confederated Tribes Reservation in Inchelium, Washington, for those who are curious) and its artichoke type. No special reason for favoring the artichoke type, I just like it. This year, also planting Lorz Italian softneck for the first time. Now you've piqued my curiosity and my interest: what is Great Lakes softneck like? Better, if you're willing to share your sources....where I might find some?

[@charlesthompson8743]

Do you have any suggestions for Elephant Garlic? I know they are more closely related to Leeks than garlic, so I am wondering if there is any other things I can do to ensure the most bountiful harvest I can get. Also, would the Onions alive fertilizer from gurneys be effective on them? They are in 20 gallon grow tubs with about 4 inches of leaf mulch on them.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

This is a great question- and I'm glad you already know they are more of a leek than a garlic- many don't realize that! But I've always grown them exactly like my garlic- I'm afraid I don't have any tips specific to Elephant garlic (other than just to give them plenty of space)!

[@davidrussell1178]

I have the actual garlic seed that was passed down to me. Do you know how to plant the seed? I am in Ohio zone 6. Love your videos!

[@titanart6225]

Hi Jenna, this is the first year we are planting our garlic in the fall, any idea around when it is harvested next year? I’m hoping early spring because the area I planted I would like to move summer crops in as soon as the space is available

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Mine is typically ready anywhere from early July to the 3rd week of July- that depends on planting date (I've done as early as mid Oct. and as late as early December) and variety.

[@titanart6225]

@@GrowfullywithJenna if I wanted to companion plant cucumbers in this same area, b/c cucumbers don’t take a lot of room, shallow roots could I plant them in mid may with my other summer plants?

[@raizelschectman932]

I grow in grow bags. Is it a problem when the leaves pop through before the frost comes. I do put leaf mulch down

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

It should not be- I almost always have some top growth before the frost comes.

[@terrywilson1289]

Jenna I have a lot of pine saw dust can I use pine dust for mulch?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Hi Terry, when choosing a mulch for garlic you want something loose enough that the garlic sprouts can easily push through in the spring. I've never mulched with sawdust, but would have some concerns it would get too heavy & matted down through the wet winter & spring weather.

[@darrylbiel8952]

Just discovered your videos. Love them wish there were not so many ads but I get it. Also, are you single 😂

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks, Darryl! I'm happily married 😄

[@CHRISOTGDNT]

Can you just soak your garlic in Apple cider vinegar ? Coming from someone that never gardening before but just a question. And by the way I love the channel Im a new subscriber and I appreciate all the good information

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

ah, "hardneck"! I just paused your video and bought "Siberian hardneck bulbs". Thanks, i was wondering why my garlic stopped coming up, it was the "softneck" variety; and it gets real cold here.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Yep- I think you'll likely be happier with the hardneck types!

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

@@GrowfullywithJenna bought several varieties of Kale as well. i wouldn't have if i didn't watch your show. we live in the same climate pretty much. all i knew grew, was brussels sprouts, and turnips.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

@@ThomasWBaldwinthat kale should do great for you!

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

@@GrowfullywithJenna its was 34 degrees last night. i got 50 daffodil bulbs to plant on my folks graves and down in front of the house. better get it done before i need a pick ax.😉

[@rogerrathbun444]

Jenna. I live in Coldwater Mi. I planted garlic last fall and covered it with straw. How soon can I remove the straw ?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I typically remove in mid-spring- especially if we're getting a lot rain, to allow the soil to dry out and warm up a little. Then I'll put the mulch back in early summer.

[@denisedewandel183]

Good video 🙂. Why isn’t there a video on all what to do with the babies if you don’t cut the scapes? Will they become a big bulb? Thanks..🙂

[@jimmargiasso9611]

Do you use the same beds year after year for your garlic?

[@zone6b481]

So what kind of results did you get? Soaked vs Unsoaked

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Preliminary results indicated that the soaking actually did help. The bulbs from that batch had larger size overall. However, I'm repeating the test again this fall, as there were too many variables to draw a definitive conclusion.

[@larrymorton4357]

I live in Ohio zone 6a also. Will my cabbage survive this weekend weather and next week's?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Heading cabbage will generally survive mid to low 20's (the outer leaves may have some damage, but the head will likely be unphased)- nevertheless, they're calling for low 20s here several nights in a row next week, and I will probably cover mine with frost cloth.

[@roygreene2921]

I just got mine in the ground

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad to hear it!

[@joybrown8644]

Hi Jenna, I planted garlic in a raised bed the third week of October. I’m in SW OH. Yesterday, January 5th, I dug down through several inches of straw mulch to see what was happening, if anything, with them. (I planted the Music variety.) I saw nothing. No sprouts. Is this normal at this point? I thought I was supposed to see a few inches of sprouts before winter really set in.

[@williamaber2791]

Curious how that soaking will turn out

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Me too!

[@shamshersinghfarmernews884]

💚

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

😄

[@matthewkurt2246]

Not a garlic question, sorry, but have you read about Stanford University's study on cover crops which suggests that cover crops may actually reduce harvest size? Just curious if you have read anything about this and what your thoughts are. Have you noticed any difference from year to year in your gardens? Also, thank you for the garlic mulch information. I think I need to add 3 more inches of leaves on my garlic bed.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Great question, Matthew! I have, and find some things about the study problematic. The least of which being that they don't seem to be looking at one specific cover crop, but 'cover crops' in general (unless I've missed something within the detail of the study). They do mention late in the study that in general rye is predominately used with maize, but not all cover crops work the same and I'm curious if any of those farmers are using blends. More than that, I don't believe cover cropping in a conventional agricultural system (such as the ones they looked at in the study) correlates directly to cover cropping in a backyard garden or even small scale, mixed cropped farm-- particularly one using organic practices. I've seen nothing but benefit from using mixed cover crops in my garden. I've seen no decrease in yields, but a decrease in weeds, improvement in soil quality and increase in the types of predatory and beneficial insects brought into the garden. I'm glad when I see farmers utilitzing cover crops, but feel they're missing the boat a bit, as it's still essentially a monoculture system. Around here it's an entire field (or fields) planted with nothing but corn or soybeans (alternating every year), followed with winter rye, which is killed in the spring with herbicide. I'm just not sure it's an ideal system. Just my 2 cents!

[@matthewkurt2246]

@@GrowfullywithJenna thank you for your well thought-out and educated response. I've only recently been using a small variety of cover crops, mostly hairy vetch, and have noticed a slight improvement in the quality of my soil. I didn't expect to have my soil improve over night, but after two years of cover crops now my soil is less compact, has better drainage, has more worms and fewer weeds and less damage to my spring through fall crops. Again, thank you for the outstanding response.

[@JoyoftheGardenandHome]

I got attacked with anthracnose so I went with an alcohol soak, followed by compost tea soak. Hope it helps...

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I hope it helps too!

[@lorrie6673]

Hello Jenna! I planted my garlic in October per usual but this fall has been so mild they've got about 5 inches of growth showing up through the straw already! Should I cut them down to the straw?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I would not worry about cutting them (I don't like to trim any of my alliums once they're out in the garden as it seems to be an entry way for disease). They will likely die back when the temps get really cold, but will sprout up again and resume growth at the proper time. This is what I've seen mine do when they sprout up early.

[@lorrie6673]

@GrowfullywithJenna OH thank you for answering Jenna!

[@Chris-cj5rh]

Jenna, can you test seed garlic size and success from Amazon sellers? I have no local options (also zone 6) and many of the online retailers are out of stock or very expensive.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'll be honest, I tend to shy away from buying any seeds, plants or bulbs from Amazon, but it looks like some of those have pretty good ratings. Were you looking at any offers in particular?

[@Browneyez2628]

I would look into Mad River Garlic. They are in Ohio (zone 6) so everything they grow can be grown in our zone. great prices & fast shipping

[@davidaleshire4292]

I’ll give this a try. At the very least it will repel vampire bunnies from the garden.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Yes-- very important to keep those vampire bunnies away 😆

[@OhioJeremy]

I planted 60+ cloves last night, but I don't think I got them deep enough. I heard 3" + another 3" of mulch. What's your opinion on planting them deep?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I like to plant them at this depth because I tend to have less issue with them frost heaving.

[@gcoates7]

My top tips for garlic: 1. Spacing is important, don't cram them close together if you want bigger bulbs, 2. Plant in same area every year, the soil becomes conditioned for garlic over time

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks for sharing!

[@nickholden1921]

Your second tip is actually counter to all garlic advice I've ever heard. All experts suggest rotating for a minimum of 4-5 years to mitigate any risk of garlic induced soil borne diseases such as fusarium and white rot sclerotera etc. I'm glad you haven't had those issues!

[@lincolnbandmom2]

How did the pre-soak work for you?

[@stevehicks8923]

Hi I’m in WV 6b. I planted my garlic October 15th and have 6” leaves already, is that bad? I got a good crop last year but planted them November 1. Timing wasn’t good this year so I got them in earlier. What do you think?

[@ValerieT2023]

I'm in 6b southwestern OH. Nothing you can do now but mulch. It should be OK in the end.

[@stevehicks8923]

@@ValerieT2023 I have about 5” of straw, should I add more when it gets cold?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Hi Steve- they'll be just fine! Those tops will likely freeze back, but they'll sprout up new growth in the spring.

[@ValerieT2023]

@@stevehicks8923 You're good!

[@christinedurant2512]

I think I messed up because I planted at the end of Sept and they started to grow already and we just got our 1st noticeable frost

[@ronaldjunod6601]

I'm curious, I've heard (and so this is what is do) that you can only plant cloves that have all the paper wrapping intact. If the paper like wrapping is split or missing, the exposed clove will rot. Is this true?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

It depends on your soil/growing conditions. If you’re fall is especially wet and/or your soil is poor draining, those cloves can certainly be more prone to rot.

[@ronaldjunod6601]

@@GrowfullywithJenna ok. Thanks. I am transitioning over to raised beds so I may experiment this fall. I live in KY zone 6b so we live in the same growing zone.

[@catfunksfabulousfinds97045]

If you space them farther apart, they grow bigger.

[@mikefrench3800]

What kind of Garlic is round with hips that grow on the side of the bulb?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Perhaps an artichoke type? I'm not sure! Filaree Garlic has information about each garlic type filareefarm.com/shop-seeds/seed-garlic/shop-by-variety/ I'm curious if any of those sound right to you?

[@mikefrench3800]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Thanks! I know i ordered the hips before on Ebay.

[@mikefrench3800]

@@GrowfullywithJenna None of those. If I find out I will let you know

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

@@mikefrench3800 darn! I'm so intrigued as to what that could be...

[@mikefrench3800]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Me too! It really taste good I'll say that

[@زهرةالربيعزهرةالربيع-غ7ر]

👍🏽👍👍🏾👍🏻👍🏿

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

💚

[@carissalizotte8977]

The soaking seems VERY strange to me?! Haha!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I know- it seemed a bit odd to me too-- like, won't that just lead to rot? But I was surprised just how many examples I found of folks doing it, so I just had to try it out for the sake of experimentation.

[@jef8528]

This is not a garlic question, I remove some apple seeds, with hopes of starting a few trees, used the seed pods and some have sprouted already…. now what? Wasn’t expecting this to happen so soon. Help???

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

If it were me, I'd probably pot those up in a 2 gallon pot or so. Through the winter you'd want to mimic their natural dormancy period, but not let that soil freeze solid. So, maybe place in an unheated garage, or someplace where it will get cold, but the pots will be somewhat protected.

[@jef8528]

Thanks for your help

[@NaseerOmran]

Which one is your fav and which Garlic gave most harvest in your tests.?

[@rossgeredien9813]

Did you ever get any results from your test using hydrogen peroxide? Is it in another video?

[@titanart6225]

Hi Jenna, it’s been unseasonably warm in my area, zone 7a, I planted my garlic and all of it has greens coming up! Will they be okay for next season still?

[@jamiebonanno1210]

I also live in 7a and have the same thing occurring. This is my first year growing garlic. I have the same question, was wondering if I should try to harvest when leaves start to die back or let them go until typical harvest time?

[@titanart6225]

@@jamiebonanno1210 I heard they’ll die back and then they should Re-grow next season. Waiting for confirmation

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Yes- they should be just fine. Typically that green growth will all die back when the cold hits, but they will sprout back next spring (just as you commented below)!

[@jamiebonanno1210]

Yeah, thank you both! Jenna, thank you for your video! Very excited about my garlic next year.

[@titanart6225]

@@GrowfullywithJenna thanks Jenna

[@nicolasbertin8552]

Hi, I saw that on an Alaskan KZbin gardening channel as well, and it seems that in America you almost all feed your garlic with either organic matter or fertilizer. This is something that we never do in Europe, where here, common knowledge is that you do not feed garlic, onions or shallots, ever. That it leads to watery poor tasting bulbs that don't keep as long. I use spent barley as my manure alternative here, and last Autumn I didn't try it on garlic but I tried on onions for the first time. And you get ginormous onions that are totally uninteresting to me, I don't need 0.5 kg onions, they're just not practical. The outer layer was also quite thin, which confirms it would have not kept as long as a smaller one. So yeah yield can be good, but if the taste suffers, and if the storage time diminishes, I think you should avoid doing it. No feeding also makes it such an easy crop... You just plant it after you've cleaned a bed of a typical summer veggie that you remove in October. 4 feedings of fertilizer sounds like a lot. Especially if you got manure in already. If you get too small bulbs without your fertilizers, I'd say something is wrong with your soil, not enough life in the soil to help plants grow maybe, or a very cold soil.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I can't say I've ever had watery or poor tasting bulbs in garlic or onions. They are typically quite rich and my long storage varieties tend to last 9-12 months (even in sub optimal storage conditions).