Tips For Growing Garlic In October

by Jennifer Smith October 10, 2018

Garlic is one of the easiest plants to grow and does not require much space in the garden. Garlic is a great herb to have on-hand and can be used in many dinner recipes, most frequently used in Italian to Mediterranean cuisines. Gardeners growing garlic in October should read these tips prior to planting:

Plant early in October

Garlic grows well in the fall season and can handle the cold weather. If garlic had set in the fridge, it can be planted in the ground and continue to grow.

Testing Soil

Garlic grows best in well-drained soil that can handle moisture. The pH in the soil will need to be between 6.0 and 7.0 for best results. Prior to planting, till the soil.

Planting Cloves of Garlic

Separate garlic cloves a day before planting. Plant garlic cloves at hand-width apart, and at a dept twice the clove's length. Plant cloves separately and not too deep.

Use Local Hardneck Varieties of Garlic

Most garlic sold across Canada is imported from China. To reduce the spread of plant diseases, try planting local garlic varieties including Purple Stripe, Rocambole and Porcelain.

Watering

As with other plants, watering garlic cloves will help garlic grow quicker and healthier. Sandy soils will require more frequent watering. Stop watering two weeks before harvesting.

Garlic is a great plant to grow this fall and is a deer-resistant herb that deer hate smelling and tasting! Apply garlic bulbs around the garden as a secondary layer of garden protection around a deer fence for deer management.