As mentioned, knowing where you are would help to give a more accurate answer. Garlic is easy to grow acceptably, a little harder to grow spectacularly. But you can do it. This is a down-and-dirty (read: "short") compendium of advice.
- The most commonly grown garlic - and the longest keeper - is a softneck called "White Silverskin". But there are many others, all with different plusses and negatives.
- Plant only the 6-8 large outer cloves of your seed garlic. Big cloves - big bulbs. Small inner cloves - small bulbs. If you get a good crop, save the largest bulbs for your next year seed (selective breeding!)
- In the northern tier of the USA, it's best to plant garlic after the first fall frost - it will winter over, and the end result is bigger bulbs next summer. But you can plant it in early spring and get a good crop - just somewhat smaller bulbs.
- Garlic doesn't need a ton of fertilizer, but it DOES need loose, well drained soil with a goodly amount of organic matter. It grows best in full sun. It's ready to harvest when about half of the leaves have yellowed (mid/late summer). Let it air dry out of the sun for 2-4 weeks, and (if it's Silverskin) it will keep virtually a year if stored in a cool, dry place. Good luck!
Ssunshine:
As mentioned, knowing where you are would help to give a more accurate answer. Garlic is easy to grow acceptably, a little harder to grow spectacularly. But you can do it. This is a down-and-dirty (read: "short") compendium of advice.
- The most commonly grown garlic - and the longest keeper - is a softneck called "White Silverskin". But there are many others, all with different plusses and negatives.
- Plant only the 6-8 large outer cloves of your seed garlic. Big cloves - big bulbs. Small inner cloves - small bulbs. If you get a good crop, save the largest bulbs for your next year seed (selective breeding!)
- In the northern tier of the USA, it's best to plant garlic after the first fall frost - it will winter over, and the end result is bigger bulbs next summer. But you can plant it in early spring and get a good crop - just somewhat smaller bulbs.
- Garlic doesn't need a ton of fertilizer, but it DOES need loose, well drained soil with a goodly amount of organic matter. It grows best in full sun. It's ready to harvest when about half of the leaves have yellowed (mid/late summer). Let it air dry out of the sun for 2-4 weeks, and (if it's Silverskin) it will keep virtually a year if stored in a cool, dry place. Good luck!