Grow Epic Garlic at Home (Fall to Summer!) 🧄 BIG Bulbs, Easy Steps, Perfect Storage

Tired of store-bought garlic that looks fine… but tastes like disappointment? 🧄 Let’s grow the real deal: big, fragrant, organic garlic that you plant once in fall and harvest like treasure in summer. Interested in growing garlic in your garden ? Visit the Amazon.com store for a variety of garlic related products - https://amzn.to/4iZnqmd #ad In this complete beginner-to-pro guide, you’ll learn exactly how garlic works, why it’s one of the easiest and most rewarding crops, and how to grow it whether you have a raised bed, a small garden plot, or just a few containers on a sunny balcony. Garlic doesn’t need fancy equipment—just smart choices, good timing, and a few “tiny details” that make the difference between cute bulbs and monster bulbs. We start with the biggest question: hardneck or softneck? Hardneck garlic grows a stiff center stalk called a scape and often brings a bolder, hotter flavor with larger cloves—amazing, but usually a shorter storage life. Softneck garlic stays flexible (yes, braiding is possible) and typically stores longer with more cloves per bulb. You’ll know which one fits your climate and your kitchen. Then we build the foundation: soil and location. Garlic loves full sun and loose, fertile, well-drained soil. We’ll walk through the ideal pH range (near neutral), how to supercharge your bed with compost, and a simple drainage upgrade that keeps roots happy. If you’re planting in containers, we’ll cover depth, spacing, and how to pack potting mix correctly so bulbs have room to expand without turning into soggy rot balloons. Next comes the secret weapon: timing. Fall planting is king because garlic needs a cold period to form proper bulbs. That chill-trigger is called vernalization, and we’ll explain it in plain English—plus what to do if you must plant in spring (yes, the fridge trick works when done right). We’ll also cover the #1 rookie mistake: peeling cloves. Don’t do it. And we’ll show how choosing only the biggest cloves instantly boosts your final bulb size. After planting, the care is refreshingly simple: steady watering (not drowning), thick mulch like a winter blanket, optional feeding for bumper crops, and why garlic hates weeds more than you hate stepping on Legos. We’ll also talk pests and leaf spot symptoms to watch for, with practical prevention ideas that don’t require turning your garden into a chemistry lab. Finally, we hit the payoff: harvest and curing. Knowing when to pull garlic is everything—too early and bulbs stay small, too late and they split. You’ll learn the visual cues in the leaves, how to lift bulbs safely, and how to cure them for long storage so you’re still using your own garlic months later. We wrap with easy recipe ideas, including roasted garlic, garlic bread, garlic soup, garlic fries, and the underrated hero: sautéed garlic scapes. If you want a garden win that feels like magic, garlic is it. Plant it, protect it, pull it, cure it… and enjoy that “I grew this!” flavor all year. More information: Growing your own garlic isn't just a fun project; it's an investment in your health. This nutrient-rich vegetable is packed with vitamins A, C, and B6, as well as essential minerals like manganese and selenium. Garlic contains powerful antioxidants that help protect your cells from damage and has been shown to boost the immune system, helping to fight off colds and infections. Studies suggest it can also help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Plus, planting garlic around your garden can even help repel pests like mosquitoes and ticks! Your garlic will be ready for harvest from mid-summer (July through September). The key indicators are when the bottom few leaves turn yellow or brown and the long green stems begin to turn yellow, wither, and fall over. To harvest, gently loosen the soil around the bulbs with a fork or tiller and carefully lift the plants from the ground. Brush off any excess dirt, but do not remove the stems or roots yet. To cure the garlic for long-term storage, hang it in bundles or spread the heads in a single layer in a warm, dry, and well-ventilated area for two to four weeks. Once cured, you can trim the roots and cut the stems about 1 inch above the bulb. #garlic #growingfood #plant #stem #undergroundfood #bulbs #harvesting #storinggarlic, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnKy0XsBGr0