of the essence Information

Garlic , a versatile andflavorful bulb , is a worthful addition to any Missouri garden . Whether you ’re an experienced nurseryman or just commence out , this comprehensive guide will invest you with the cognition and proficiency tosuccessfully plant garlicin Missouri ’s unequalled climate .

Ideal Timing for Planting Garlic in Missouri

The optimal time to plant garlic in Missouri is in the fall , typically between mid - October and mid - November . This allows the Syzygium aromaticum todevelop rootsbefore the primer freezes , giving them forward startin the spring .

Selecting the Right Garlic Variety

Numerous garlic diversity expand in Missouri ’s clime . Hardneck varieties , such as ‘ Music ’ or ‘ Rocambole , ’ produce a central straw and are have it away for theirbold flavorandlong storage life history . Softneck varieties , such as ‘ Artichoke ’ or ‘ Silverskin , ’ lack a key stalking and have a milder feeling .

Preparing the Soil for Garlic

Garlic prefers well - drained , loose grunge with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 . remedy the grime with compost or manure toimprove fertilityand drainage . Avoid planting in orbit where water tends to accumulate .

Planting Garlic Cloves

Separate thegarlic bulbsintoindividual cloves . Select healthy , unfluctuating clove that are free of defect or harm . Plant the Syzygium aromaticum pointed end up , about 2 inches deep and 4 - 6 in apart . Firm the dirt around the cloves to ensure good touch .

Mulching and Watering

Mulch the garlic bed with a layer of straw , leaves , or compost toretain moisture , suppress weeds , and protect the cloves from stop dead temperatures . Water thegarlic on a regular basis , specially during wry spells . quash overwatering , as garlic is susceptible to root rot .

Fertilizing Garlic

fecundate thegarlic lightlyin the spring with abalanced fertilizer . keep off using fertilizers high in N , as this canencourage leafage growthat the expense of electric-light bulb development .

Harvesting Garlic

Garlic istypically readyto harvest home in mid - summer , when the summit of the plant start to turn dark-brown and fall over . Gently untie the land around the bulbs and pull them out by hand . Allow the bulbs to dry out in a well - ventilated area for several workweek before put in them .

Troubleshooting Common Garlic Problems

Frequently Asked Questions

Q : Can Iplant garlicin the spring?A : Yes , butfall plantingis preferred for better incandescent lamp maturation . Q : How long does it take to develop garlic?A : From engraft to harvesting , ittypically takesabout 6 - 8 months . Q : How should I stash away garlic?A : Store garlicin a nerveless , dry , and well - ventilate area . Q : Can Igrow garlicfrom store - buy bulbs?A : Yes , but it ’s good to apply cloves from evidence disease - free incandescent lamp . Q : How can Iprevent garlicfrom sprouting?A : skip off theroot endof the bulbs and store them in a nerveless , dry office .