Soft and Hard Neck Garlic

We have in our garden two types of garlic. The hard neck is a larger bulb but the taste is not as strong and the soft neck is a smaller bulb with a strong flavor. We planted ours last year in late fall. We planted 48 cloves of garlic in a bed of 4 ft by almost 20 ft. In four rows, spaced about close to 10 inches. You have to mulch it heavy with hay and cover them for at least 3 to 4 inches. Plant the clove with the root facing down.

If you want spring or early garlic, you can plant the whole bulb in the fall and the next season you can pick the plant from one of the cloves. ( I haven't done that, but my neighbor has).

Last week I cut the garlic scapes of the each garlic plant. Garlic scapes are the flowers of the plant, and you want to cut them so that the plant focuses its energy into the bulb rather than into the flower.

We are so close to pick and dry our soft neck garlic. You will see the plant's leaves wilt and tun yellow and when aprox. 4 or 5 leaves start dying, you should pick the garlic and dry it.

You could braid the garlic or dry it on a rack and store it in a cool place.

We will see how we do !