Growing Garlic 101 (And the best way to get ZERO harvest) | VLOG

Hey ya'll, I'm Jess from Roots & Refuge Farm

Welcome to a place that feels like home. A small farm with a big family. We hope you'll pull up a chair, grab some coffee and visit awhile.

There was a time that all I wanted in the world was a little farm where I could raise my family and grow our food. Now, that is exactly what exists outside my door. In watching it unfold, a new dream was formed in my heart – to share this beautiful life with others and teach them the lessons we've learned along the way. Welcome to our journey, friend. I am so glad you're here.

*********************
WHERE TO FIND US (Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you purchase through our links we'll receive a small commission but the price remains the same - OR BETTER - for you! Be sure to check for any mentioned discount codes.)

- To drop us a line:
PO Box 4239
Leesville SC 29070

**********************
PRODUCTS WE LOVE - You've probably heard me talk about these things a million times, so here's where you can order them (and get a discount with my code!):

#rootsandrefuge #homesteading #gardening

[richm]

A couple of notes from a long time hard neck garlic grower. Early in the video you mentioned being too late to put your garlic in. As long as the ground is not so frozen you can't dig in it, you're not too late. You do mention that quite a bit later in the video. The only thing that happens in the fall/winter is the garlic puts down and establishes its roots for the spring. I reliably harvest my garlic in zone 6B within a week of July 15. When garlic is ready to harvest is determined not by when you put it in in the fall but when vernalization occurs in the spring. Planting earlier you may get larger bulbs. I'm doing an experiment on that myself this year. Larger cloves give you larger bulbs, smaller clovees smaller bulbs. Size is less related to the health than the size of the bulb it will produce. Garlic is not ready to harvest because the scapes appear. My scapes can show up 6 weeks or more before harvest time. Harvest time is indicated when half the leaves have turned brown and fallen down. However you may get a false indication (as I do every June) when the leaves begin to turn yellow and flop a bit when all the plant wants is considerably more water because the bulb and greens are growing larger and need more water, and perhaps because it's hotter. Most of the growth in the bulb happens in the last month so don't harvest early. Don't harvest late because the cloves will separate in the bulb and won't store as long. Too late is when more than 2/3 of the leaves are brown and have fallen. Although bulbs are separated clothes will be fine for planting for the next year's harvest as long as they're otherwise healthy.

[MarieAchee]

Jess, I was so discouraged this morning by, among other things, the fact that I have garlic in my living room and I just haven't gotten it in the ground. Then this video. Thank you. I mentally think of you as Jessica Stewards instead of Sowards because you've taught a generation of us how to be good stewards :).

[Northfarmstead]

From a larger scale garlic grower in Maine, great video, Jess! Yes, hardneck is better for Northern zones, we have discontinued all our softneck varieties over the years due to various failures. Trial and error. Find what works for you and go with it! Also, if you can dig, you can plant! We've even cracked through an icy top soil to plant and still had great results.
I wish I could speak as well and lovely as you do in my own videos. I mostly end up stammering and swearing 🤣. Again, well done!

[sydneykasmar]

My homeland - the greenhouse and plant discussions. This week I'm celebrating having followed Roots and Refuge Farm for four years. Four years of wisdom, knowledge, laughter and delight. Thank you for all these gifts I've received through you Jess!!!

[angelahutt]

I so appreciate your perspective and love the reminder that nothing will grow if it’s not planted so giving it a go is better than leaving it because it’s not the “perfect” timing.

[prairielavender]

I've been growing Red Russian garlic (a hard neck variety) for several years. I've started dehydrating the scapes, then grind them to use for garlic powder. It is excellent! As for storage, I've been keeping the garlic in the kitchen area and have been using the last heads the week I start harvesting the new crop.

[edwardleecaliforniausa]

Good morning everyone happy Sunday morning and I hope you having amazing day today and I loved your vlogs and you are amazing Supporter

[gardenobsessed]

I’m in Canadian zone 5(comparable to a USDA 4) it’s not too late! I have planted garlic into December before and harvested garlic the following summer. You may sacrifice a little bit in bulb size but smaller garlic is better than no garlic! If the ground hasn’t completely frozen where you are yet, go for it!

[sandieweatherup]

Heck yeah, grocery store garlic even works. In 2020 I had three cloves left in my kitchen and decided to plant them outside. They did OK in the North Georgia clay and yielded 36 cloves. I ate the smallest 12 and planted the other 24 cloves in a grow bag in 2021. This past summer I harvested 24 heads and they were so pretty braided. I just planted 36 of the largest cloves in 3 grow bags and we're still eating from the garlic we harvested last June (which I now know might have been too early). I love garden multiplication math!! 😁 The only challenge I have is knowing how much to water the grow bags.

[jannafolsom]

Hit pause to comment-
During the planting time-lapse, I kept expecting Benjamin to pop in. I was thinking it odd him not being there to help.
Give him our bestest well wishes! ;) glad ya saved some for him.

[msdebbiep]

You always have something new to teach or remind . No matter how many videos you do on a subject …grateful gardener :)

[bettymichael]

Garlic is one of my favourites in keeping caterpillars away. I plant it everywhere. The beauty of their lovely leaves is that they go so well with fresh home grown mint in scrambled eggs. Virtually everything we cook has both ginger and garlic so growing them is part of our yearly routine.

[angelinasaavedra]

Ha!!! I paused the video went out and planted garlic! At least now it has a chance🙌🙏Thanks Jessica ❤️

[susanwright]

Thank you so much for the nudge! I have seed garlic and was thinking about whether or not I should plant it. Your videos are ALWAYS helpful!!! I'm going to plant this weekend! xoxo

[krystalkomro]

I’m a bit late to the commenting party. Oops. But I’m a hardneck garlic grower (Iowa) and i winterize my raised beds with a thick layer of straw. Especially over the garlic. And every year. I have had my garlic burst happily through that straw layer in spring. I just wanted to share that the baby garlic shoots can handle a thickish layer of straw on them. 😊

[happyheartgardening]

I loved seeing your colorful seed packet dresser in your green house! Hope Ben feels better soon!!

[lunachicdh]

So…I have to say a HUGE THANK YOU!! I’ve been putting off planting my garlic && THIS video got me outside - turning over the soil (top 1” or so was frozen but underneath was great) and I PLANTED the garlic!!! Like you said better to plant and hope for something than just to throw it out!!! So thank you for the inspiration and advice as always - love your channel!!!

[DjChelan]

My Garlic made it from a local grower in Twisp Washington in the mail, the next day we got 5 inches of snow in Manson, WA Zone 6B and then I went out back to my pots I prepared and they are frozen with snow on top, I am hoping by time I finish this vlog you will tell me to go ahead and plant them in the the pot! Jess please send me your positive mojo! Hugs, Heidi

[annettehovey]

I live in North Dakota zone 4a and we have grown garlic for the past 5 years. Hard neck is definitely better here. We got our garlic in this past week 1 day before a foot of snow fell!

[ziggy]

My grandfather started the family tradition of growing elephant garlic here in Reno, NV. We get 4-5 dozen bulbs harvested each year.
We put it in the ground at the end of September, and it grows a bit above the ground before the freeze comes, then we harvest in August ish. We've found that it takes very little water, and prefers the somewhat amended clay soil to really rich soil.