Garlic
Liliaceae
Bulbs and bulblike plants, Vegetables
These onion relatives are not known in the wild. Seed stores and some mail-order seed houses sell disease-free mother bulbs (“sets“) for planting“and some gardeners have had good luck planting bulbs from grocery stores.
In mild-winter areas, plant in fall for early summer harvest; where winters are cold, plant in early spring. Break up bulbs into individual segments (“cloves“) and select largest ones. Plant in rich, well-drained soil, setting cloves pointed end up, 1 in. deep, 3“6 in. apart, in rows 15 in. apart.
Harvest when leafy tops fall over; lift out with garden fork rather than pulling. Air-dry bulbs, cut off most of tops and roots, and store in cool, well-ventilated place out of sunlight. Giant or elephant garlic has unusually large (fist-size) bulbs and mild garlic flavor. Grow as for regular garlic, but space 8“12 in. apart.
For ornamental relatives, see Allium.
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