Planting garlic in the great white north
Garlic is a cold-hardy crop that can be successfully grown in the coldest of regions, making it a perfect crop for cold climates. Here are the steps for planting garlic in a cold climate:
Choose the right time to plant. Garlic is typically planted in the fall, around mid-September to mid-October, before the ground freezes. This allows the cloves to establish roots and develop into strong plants before the winter.
Select the right location. Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil. If your soil is heavy clay, consider amending it with organic matter such as compost to improve drainage.
Prepare the soil. Remove any weeds and loosen the soil to a depth of about 8 inches. Add a balanced fertilizer to the soil if necessary. I have
Separate the garlic cloves. Carefully separate the garlic bulbs into individual cloves, taking care not to damage them. Do not plant a damaged or nicked clove, it will invite rot and disease. The size your bulb will grow to directly relates to the size of the clove you planted, so always plant your biggest cloves. Use the smaller cloves for cooking.
Plant the cloves. Plant the cloves about 1.5 inches deep and 6 inches apart in rows. Ensure that the pointed end of the clove is facing upwards! This is very important. The round end of the clove (the basal plate) needs to make contact with the ground.
Cover with soil. Cover the cloves with one inch of soil and gently press down to ensure good soil-to-clove contact. Your soil should have a moderate amount of moisture in it when you plant, but avoid wet soil. Once planted, your garlic won’t require any watering until spring.
Mulch. Apply a thick layer of mulch, such as straw or chopped leaves, to help insulate the soil and protect the cloves from winter damage and frost heaving. Pat the garlic in the ground, tell it to have a good sleep, and put it to bed for the winter!
Wait for spring! - this is the hardest part.
Following these steps, you will be able to successfully grow garlic in zone 3.
