Usually, I’m not a worrier; I’m pretty much a roll-with-it type of gal. Until it comes to planting garlic.
I almost didn’t write about it. That’s because I was worried I got it into the ground too late — until I went on Instagram yesterday and saw that a bunch of nearby farms and gardeners also are just putting cloves in the ground. Whew!
The funny thing is, everyone who grows garlic says it’s easy. We’ve watched YouTube videos, read books and seed catalogs and talked to people who grow garlic.
But, last year, we planted too early. We think. Our garlic sent up green leaves and very little of it sprouted again in the spring. That’s part of the reason I waited so long to plant this time around. Then I got worried the cloves wouldn’t have enough time to establish roots before it got cold.
I planted several varieties this year, mostly reds. Above are cloves of German red. I also did Chesnok red, Russian red, Inchellium red, German Extra Hardy and Metechi.
Now, the cloves are tucked under a nice blanket of hay for the winter while I dream of a bumper crop in the spring.
Two Rock Ridge Farm 