{"id":1017,"date":"2025-09-15T09:30:40","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T13:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/?p=1017"},"modified":"2024-09-10T13:57:41","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T17:57:41","slug":"how-to-grow-garlic-from-a-clove","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/how-to-grow-garlic-from-a-clove\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Garlic"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-5::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-5{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-6::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-6{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-7::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-7{display:block;}<\/style><p>Here&rsquo;s a fun truth: Growing garlic couldn&rsquo;t be easier. It doesn&rsquo;t require much, and once you eat homegrown garlic, you&rsquo;ll want to grow your own all the time.<\/p>\n<p>Many think of garlic as a Mediterranean plant that cannot be grown in cooler climates. But modern varieties that have been specifically bred for cooler growing conditions offer a good range of hard-neck and soft-neck varieties.<\/p>\n<h2>How to Grow Garlic From a Clove<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_34567\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-34567\" class=\"size-full wp-image-34567\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cloves of garlic in wicker basket on black soil background in autumn time\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-34567\" class=\"size-full wp-image-34567 eager-load\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201280%20720'%3E%3Crect%20width='1280'%20height='720'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"Cloves of garlic in wicker basket on black soil background in autumn time\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/garlic-1-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" data-svg=\"1\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-34567\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>There are two types of garlic:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hard-neck garlic, which is easier to grow, is hardier but does not store so well<\/li>\n<li>Soft-neck garlic, which offers better and longer storage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Garlic prefers a longer growing season, so planting in October or November is best, although you can still have reasonable success from an early spring sowing. They need a sunny position and well-drained soil.<\/p>\n<p>To sow garlic, buy a garlic bulb, split off the cloves and plant them, root side down, in a 3&Prime; deep hole at 8 inches apart.<\/p>\n<p>Supermarket garlic is from warmer-weather varieties, so stick to varieties that have been bred to grow well in a cooler summer. But, if you&rsquo;d like to use spring\/green garlic in salads and cooking, supermarket garlic works well. We buy our garlic at COSTCO and in the spring plant a whole bag of it for salads: best garlic ever!!!<\/p>\n<p>You can also sow garlic in the spring, but it might not do as well.<\/p>\n<p>If your soil is prone to waterlogging, it is well worth dibbing a deeper hole and dropping some sharp sand in before the garlic clove, or you could sow in the greenhouse and plant out in the spring.<\/p>\n<p>There is very little more to growing garlic; just keep it weed-free and water it in a dry spell, and you should have plenty of bulbs in the summer.<\/p>\n<p>Plant a few of these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/companion-plants-for-garlic\/\">garlic companion plants<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What&rsquo;s The Best Soil for Garlic<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_35514\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-35514\" class=\"size-full wp-image-35514\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296.jpg\" alt=\"Woman watering cans garlic plant. Field of young garlic sprouts. Woman uses a plastic watering can.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-35514\" class=\"size-full wp-image-35514 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296.jpg\" alt=\"Woman watering cans garlic plant. Field of young garlic sprouts. Woman uses a plastic watering can.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_622599296.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-2\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-35514\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Garlic likes loamy, sandy soil, but does not do well in waterlogged soil, so it is worth adding sand or grit to the whole bed or under the dibbed holes you plant the garlic in to help keep cloves in free-draining soil.<\/p>\n<p>If your soil is particularly wet over the winter, it may be worth planting cloves in 3&Prime; pots in the greenhouse and planting it out during the spring.<\/p>\n<p>Like all members of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/how-to-grow-allium-vegetables\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">allium family<\/a>, garlic likes an application of some wood ashes.<\/p>\n<h2>Garlic Pests And Diseases<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_29759\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29759\" class=\"size-full wp-image-29759\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1.jpg\" alt=\"garlic ready to be planted.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-1080x608.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-150x84.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29759\" class=\"size-full wp-image-29759 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1.jpg\" alt=\"garlic ready to be planted.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-1080x608.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1-150x84.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/planting-garlic-1.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-3\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-29759\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image credit: Backyard Garden Lover.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Garlic is pretty trouble-free as long as the temperatures and weather stay steady.&nbsp;If the temperatures are a bit haphazard or extremely wet, there are a few things to watch out for.<\/p>\n<p>Fluctuating temperatures could do several things:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Send your garlic into flower<\/li>\n<li>Cause the bulb to split into cloves and regrow<\/li>\n<li>Get bulbs growing above the ground along the stem<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How to Harvest Garlic<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_35515\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-35515\" class=\"size-full wp-image-35515\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443.jpg\" alt=\"garlic harvesting close-up of gloved hands, gardening vegetables\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-35515\" class=\"size-full wp-image-35515 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443.jpg\" alt=\"garlic harvesting close-up of gloved hands, gardening vegetables\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shutterstock_2100272443.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-4\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-35515\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Harvest garlic in mid-summer when the leaves start to turn yellow.<\/p>\n<p>Although bulbs can be used straight away and wet garlic is often sought after by chefs, you will need to store most of your garlic harvest. To store, let the bulbs dry for a week. Once dried, strip off the dirty skin, cut off excess roots, then braid (plait) and hang.<\/p>\n<p>Storing garlic in a dry, warm place, not in the refrigerator, will prevent it from sprouting too soon. You&rsquo;ll have fresh garlic for months, all the way through winter.<\/p>\n<h2>How to Braid Garlic<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_28572\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28572\" class=\"size-full wp-image-28572\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid.jpg\" alt=\"young girl having fun with braided garlic.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-1080x608.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-150x84.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28572\" class=\"size-full wp-image-28572 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid.jpg\" alt=\"young girl having fun with braided garlic.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-1080x608.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid-150x84.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/garlic-braid.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-5\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-28572\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image credit: Backyard Garden Lover.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Braiding garlic is both a practical and beautiful way to store your harvest.<\/p>\n<p>Once your garlic bulbs have been properly cured&mdash;typically for two to three weeks in a warm, dry, and well-ventilated area&mdash;you can begin the braiding process. Start by gently cleaning off any dirt and trimming the roots to about &frac14; inch. To make the stems more pliable (if needed), soak them in lukewarm water for 15&ndash;30 minutes or wrap them in damp towels. Select three large bulbs and cross their stems over one another to begin the braid. Add one bulb at a time, weaving its stem into the braid as you go.<\/p>\n<p>Once you&rsquo;ve added about 12 bulbs, secure the top with twine and hang the braid in a cool, dry place with good airflow. This method not only keeps garlic fresh for up to six months but also adds rustic charm to your kitchen or pantry.<\/p>\n<h2>Different Garlic Varieties to Consider<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_32064\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32064\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32064\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb.jpg\" alt=\"Ripe garlic bulb\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-1080x608.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-150x84.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32064\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32064 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb.jpg\" alt=\"Ripe garlic bulb\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-1080x608.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb-150x84.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ripe-garlic-bulb.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-6\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-32064\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>As mentioned before, there are two types of garlic: the soft-neck and the hard-neck.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Soft-neck garlic is not very hardy, but it stores better.<\/strong> Choose either Chesnok Wight for a strong flavor or Red Sicilian for a good roasting bulb.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hard-neck garlic tends to be hardier, but it doesn&rsquo;t store so well.<\/strong> Solent Wight is probably the best known and most popular of the hard-neck types.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Elephant garlic is a giant bulb that is becoming more and more popular. It&rsquo;s great for roasting whole and has a good, sweet flavor.<\/strong> But contrary to its name, Elephant Garlic is not really garlic; it&rsquo;s actually more closely related to leeks.<\/p>\n<p>Now that you know how to grow garlic from a clove, you&rsquo;ll never need (or want) to buy garlic again!<\/p>\n<h2>Cooking with Garlic<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_29762\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29762\" class=\"size-full wp-image-29762\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic.jpg\" alt=\"Garlic roasted in the air fryer.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-1080x608.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-150x84.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29762\" class=\"size-full wp-image-29762 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic.jpg\" alt=\"Garlic roasted in the air fryer.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-1080x608.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic-150x84.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/air-fried-garlic.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-7\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-29762\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Backyard Garden Lover.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Adding garlic to your meals is not only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/the-health-benefits-of-garlic\/\">healthy<\/a> but absolutely delicious! We add it to our summer salads (the fresh, green garlic is sooo good!), roast it, make garlic mayo that we add to home fries and baked fish, and, of course, we add it to everyday cooking (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/savory-roasted-butternut-squash-soup\/\">like this butternut soup<\/a>).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here&rsquo;s a fun truth: Growing garlic couldn&rsquo;t be easier. It doesn&rsquo;t require much, and once you eat homegrown garlic, you&rsquo;ll want to grow your own all the time. Many think of garlic as a Mediterranean plant that cannot be grown in cooler climates. But modern varieties that have been specifically bred for cooler growing conditions &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":43690,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"no","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"","disable-critical-css":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[8072],"class_list":["post-1017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vegetable-gardening"],"authors":[{"term_id":8072,"user_id":1,"is_guest":0,"slug":"adriana-copaceanu","display_name":"Adriana Copaceanu","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/adriana.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/adriana.jpg"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"mv":{"thumbnail_id":43690,"thumbnail_uri":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Shutterstock_2302447879-300x169.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1017"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1017\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43753,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1017\/revisions\/43753"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1017"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=1017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}