Garlic is native to Central Asia. It was adapted to southern European climates long ago before finding its way to the New World. Here, you’ll answer the question how long does garlic take to grow from a clove?
Garlic growing has since become very popular. Even then, they also wondered ‘How Long Does Garlic Take To Grow?’
Thanks to its growing popularity, many heirloom varieties of this annual crop exist. Home growers can pick from different colors, flavors, and intensities.
While you might be spoilt for choice, how long garlic takes to grow bums out most people.
When it comes to the question ‘How Long Does Garlic Take To Grow’, most types take about 9 months to mature. When cultivated from cloves, that’s about it. But several short-season variations, on the other hand, require less time.
A small garlic clove sown in the ground matures into a ready-to-harvest head of garlic in around 8 to 9 months. But don’t allow the timeline to get in the way of your progress.
Can You Use Store-bought Garlic
The most familiar garlic variety is the paper-white garlic bulbs grown in California. You find them in grocery stores.
Store-bought garlic can be grown in certain gardens. But, experts recommend selecting varieties that flourish in your region’s climate.
When planting garlic, you can use a raised bed or pots. The method you use impacts when it’s ready to harvest.
For garden beds, preparation is key and you can read more about garden bed soil preparation in this other article.
Some garlic kinds are easy to duplicate and grow. So you can have a place to start from last year’s harvest, while others become dinner right away.
Read More Tips: Soil For Raised Beds: Perfect Soil Mix Recipe
How You Grow Garlic From A Clove
You can use garlic bulbs purchased from the store to cultivate garlic. Growing garlic from the grocery store is a quick and easy way to grow your fresh bulbs.
Sometimes, the cloves would germinate when left alone in the cupboard. Transplanting is easy if you already have one sprouting in the cupboard.
- Place the root end of the clove in the soil the same way you would any other bulb. The clove’s paper slip does not need to be removed. The black area will turn into a root.
- As the clove increases, the head will grow in size as well.
- Keep garlic in a warm, sunny area of your house or outside on a deck or porch. The sun helps the plant to root and send up new shoots if you’re planting it in a pot.
- Once the garlic has established in the soil, cut down the scapes (flowering tendrils). The garlic plant can then focus all its efforts on producing a large, delicious garlic bulb.
- To form a bulb, most types of garlic need at least 40 days of temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant will grow a recognizable green stalk with flat leaves but no bulb if this is not done. Exposing garlic to temperatures above 77 degrees will reduce the chances of bulbing. Especially if it happens before planting. As a result, you should properly chill it before planting.
- After those frosty days, the garlic will divide into several new cloves and grow bulbs. It will take about 6 months in most cases.
- Harvesting the garlic is the most enjoyable part. You can learn more about growing and harvesting garlic by visiting this page.
- Remove another clove after this and repeat the process. It can be planted directly into the soil in Zones 3 and up. Despite the long growing season, plant your bulbs in the fall. It will ensure that they are larger and more flavorful the following year.
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What happens if you plant a whole garlic bulb?
You can plant a whole bulb in the garden but it is not recommended. Planting a whole garlic bulb will prevent the garlic plants from developing. If you plant a whole garlic bulb, the cloves will overcrowd and compete for resources.
As a result, it is unlikely that you will get garlic plants from each clove. The best option is to plant garlic from a single clove. Leave the papery husk on the clove and plant it two or three inches below the soil’s surface, pointed end up.
Choose a location with six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day and rich soil that drains well. Allow six inches between cloves if you’re planting them in a row.
Maintain a constant soil moisture level while avoiding oversaturation. The best time to plant garlic is in the fall and harvest in June.
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