As an avid modern homesteader talking to a newbie, I think I need to tell you there’s not a lot that goes into planting garlic in the fall to enjoy a great harvest for the following year.
You have to source the type of garlic (giant or standard size) that you want. Then there’s who to buy it from. And you have to figure out where to plant it and how to take care of it.
It’s enough to make you want to say, “Ready, Set, Run.”
But here’s the thing: When you really nail it, planting your own fall garlic presents an incredible opportunity to learn something new (yay!) and to have a ready-made supply of high-quality garlic to use for the following year. And I’m going to give you a blueprint for success.
What Will We Accomplish?
In this planting garlic guide, I’ll be answering the common questions that people ask me. And I’ll give you the real scoop – based on years of trial and error – so you can rest assured you’re getting answers from an expert.
We (my husband and I) plant garlic every fall to enjoy a fantastic product every summer. These are the answers I wish I had in the early days of my modern homesteading and gardening , and my hope is that the tips I share will clear up any confusion you have around planting garlic so you can maximize your results.
Before we dig in, I created this FREE ebook with all the steps to tackle planting garlic in the fall.
#1. What’s the best way to approach sourcing fall garlic?
There are many different ways to approach sourcing garlic varieties, and the key is to find the variety that resonates with you. More importantly, the seed bulb source needs to be an established, reliable source that you’ll consistently get a quality product. At the end of the day, the best approach is the one you can stick with and be consistent.
That being said, here are some supply sources I highly recommend:
Seed Supply Catalogs
Here are my top three suggestions for seed supply catalogs that I always get quality product from.
RH Schumway is a fantastic seed supplier that my family and I have been buying from for 20+ years, but they have a small selection of garlic varieties, so their stock runs out quickly.
If I had to choose my top pick, I go with Johnny’s Selected Seeds because they have a fantastic variety of organic and non-organic choices. Because of their great selection and budget-friendly options, you can choose the garlic bulbs that work for you and your budget.
Get Garlic Bulbs From A Friend
Simply put, find a friend who is already growing garlic and getting good results. See if he or she is willing to give you a couple bulbs to start on your own. When planting garlic, you’re planting the individual cloves, each of which will eventually turn into a whole bulb.
I haven’t had to get cloves or bulbs from a friend as I’ve always been able to source quality garlic products from the seed catalogs that I listed above. This is just another way to get any number of quality garden items if you want to be sure that the variety you select will grow in your area. If your friend is local to you and is having success with their varieties, you can be more sure that you will be successful as well.
Buy Garlic Bulbs From A Local Grocer
What most people don’t realize is that local grocery stores are a wealth of supply when it comes to finding plantable items. The fresh food items that actually make it for sale in the store are rated as a higher quality item, so you have a better chance of finding a good item to start at home.
Some of the fresh food items you can use as starters from a grocery store are garlic bulbs, tomatoes (save the seeds and start plants), chives, celery, Romaine lettuces, etc. All of these items usually come with seeds intact or root systems intact; we can review this in another post as this is a very real method for starting your own window garden.
2. How long will it take to start the garlic bulbs?
I know you’re pumped about starting your own garlic collection and want to get there as fast as you can, but you can’t cut corners when it comes to preparing the area or container you’ll be planting in. You’ll only short the end-product quality, which will lead to a possibility of no end harvest at all.
You’ll have much better results if you focus on one or two small goals at a time and do each one correctly the first time.
Before you know it, you’ll look back and the rest will be history.
As the Chinese proverb says: “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
In other words, start with small steps done correctly and keep moving forward.
Instead of focusing on how long it will take, focus on the process of setting up an area or container that you can use and build upon each year. By using and building the soil in one area or container, this increases the quality of the outcome year by year.
I keep mentioning container gardening because it is a very real and dependable solution for urban or modern homesteading, especially for growing small, non-spreading food items such as garlic, onions, leeks, potatoes, beets, turnips, rutabaga, carrots, parsnips, etc. Your container needs to be large enough to accommodate the needed spacing between the individual plants, but these examples listed won’t spread excessively.
3. Is there a faster way to grow garlic?
I get it. Growing anything of quality can take a long time. You have to lay the soil foundation, use quality starting products, and give the full amount of time needed.
It’s hard to stay focused and motivated, especially if you feel your time to devote to said gardening project is limited at best. This is again why I mention container gardening as a great solution; with this method, you can start the amount of bulbs or seed that is manageable to maintain with the time and resources you have in your personal/professional life. If you only have time to plant and manage one container, then start with one. Start with planting garlic cloves because they require little maintenance after the initial soil prep and planting.
Here’s what you can do to save time:
- Choose low-maintenance items to plant like onion sets, garlic sets, beets or turnips.
- Decide the size of containers that work for your home and ability to monitor.
- Starting these different small gardening projects help your brain work into a long-view mode of growing things that can be used in a short amount of time or in a longer season.
Reinforcing the Modern Homesteading Mindset
But the most important thing you should do?
Work toward the mindset of modern homesteading, which is learning to grow and cultivate items that improve your daily life as well as different seasons in your life as each item comes to fruition. Growing salad greens and sprouts is a short-term addition to be used as daily nutrition supplement. Growing items like garlic, onions, beets, carrots, and turnips take longer to finish, but can also be stored for long-term usage. The idea and encouragement is to change your mindset and have good things growing for both short-term and long-term use.
4. How do I know what aspect of planting garlic to focus on next?
Sometimes it’s hard to know if THIS strategy or THAT strategy will work best for learning about growing small items in containers, such as garlic or onions. Should you try raised beds or planters? Or a small garden plot in your backyard?
It all depends on where you’re at in your modern homesteading journey:
- If you’re just learning about the ideas behind modern homesteading and how they can fit into your life, my advice is to start small and simple. This is why I mention food items like garlic, onion sets, greens and root vegetables because they grow well and require a smaller level of skill and maintenance.
Homesteading Knowledge Expansion
If you’re looking to expand on your current knowledge of modern or backyard homesteading, look into adding fruit trees or bushes that are small in space consumption but higher in production amount. We can talk about these ideas in another post or e-book.
- If you’re in an advanced level of modern homesteading skills, first, good for You! When you have reached the advanced levels, it’s time for you to start teaching someone else who wants to learn. There’s no better way to hone a skill than to teach it to someone else.
Remember, more than anything else what should steer the course of your modern homesteading journey is the development of a long-term goal view and mindset. To clarify, when we grow garlic, it’s not ready immediately, but holds the promise of being able to enjoy a large amount of quality garlic for the following year in so many different culinary adventures.
5. What tools or resources should I use to grow quality garlic?
If you’re ready to level up your garlic growing game, you’ll need to invest in the right materials for the job. Tools that help you lay a quality foundation faster and easier so you can save time and have some fun while you’re at it.
The best container gardening tools will help you grow a surprising amount of fresh food without sacrificing space or time.
Here are three of my favorites and how I use them:
- Quality Container Potting Soil
- Self Watering Planter Pots with Visual Water Level Window
- Certified Organic Vegetable Seeds
There are others out there, too. Just remember when you’re searching for tools, make sure they have proven quality results and are focused on organic/all-natural gardening practices.
I will always focus on starting with an organic or all-natural base for potting soil or seed because there are no harmful chemicals or additions in the beginning. That way, you’ll be able to attain a quality product and process faster.
Wrapping it Up
Now you have the real scoop on growing garlic for yourself and your family, getting started with container gardening as well as starting with quality tools and materials.
If you utilize these tips when starting any number of fruits or vegetables in your home or backyard, you can’t go wrong. The key is to start slow, start small and learn each step the right way.
Did I answer all your questions? Let me know in the comments.
Take a first step at putting this into action by downloading my FREE ebook on growing your own garlic.
This quick, actionable guide will help you get started the right way. Click here to download it now.
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