To prepare for planting garlic, remove weeds, loosen and mix soil with compost and fertilizer. Use well-draining sandy loam soil, not clay-based soil which retains too much water and prevents drainage.
To ensure healthy growth, use unpeeled garlic cloves and leave the papery skin intact. This protects against bacteria and promotes root growth before sprouting.
Plant garlic in a sunny spot for bigger bulbs, but it can still grow in less sunny areas with no flavor loss.
To plant garlic cloves properly: – Space them 4 to 8 inches apart in a shallow trench – Plant with the pointed tip facing upward for sprout growth – Plant 2 inches below soil to avoid exposure to weather – Overlapping leaves will deprive some of sunlight, so avoid planting cloves too close together.
To protect garlic, add 3-4 inches of mulch after planting to control weed growth, retain moisture, and prevent temperature shifts. Mulch options include dried leaves, compost, and wood chips.
To promote root development, water newly planted garlic cloves, but avoid overwatering as garlic prefers low soil moisture. During hot and dry periods, reduce watering frequency to encourage bulb maturity for harvest.