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Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 15:37:35 -0800
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From: hesh@netcom.com (Chris Steinbroner)
To: "Northwest Bikers' Social Mailing List" 
Subject: Re: Planting garlic...
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X-Comment: Northwest Bikers' Social Mailing List
In-Reply-To: martin@plaza.ds.adp.com
Status: RO

> > hi there.  i've been growing elephant garlic for 4 years, and it's easy. 
> 
> When do you plant and harvest, respectively? All the instructions I've seen
> for garlic call for fall planting for a late-next-year harvest, and there's
> no way I'll ever have a garden planned that far in advance.

Yes, it takes planning.  One should grow legumes or other nitrogen-fixing
crops a full year before planting garlic.  Warm climates may plant in early
spring for a late summer harvest; but the bulbs will be smaller compared
to bulbs grown during the normal fall to mid-summer season.  The colder your
fall and winter, the sooner you should plant.  Oregon and Washington qualify
as "colder"; you could plant as early as September if you get really cold.
Also plant more deeply (4") if you get snow.  Place a 4" thick layer of mulch
(straw works great) to protect the young shoots.  In the summer, look for
browning of the leaves, then stop watering.  Wait another month before
harvesting.  The harvest dates vary depending on the variety of garlic.


-- hesh

p.s.  Elephant garlic is not garlic; it's in the leek family.  It's harder
      to grow good garlic.