Growing Garlic in Alberta

Garlic is a pantry staple in most any home. Garlic is used around the world for the aromatic flavour it adds to a dish. Garlic is also known for its many health benefits and its ability to strengthen the immune system. Growing garlic in zone 3 Alberta where I live has proven to be easy to do once I figured out the correct planting date, proper soil conditions and watering needs for growing garlic.

Red Russian and Music Garlic

Hard Neck vs. Soft Neck Garlic

There are two main types of garlic: hard neck and soft neck. Soft neck garlic grows well in warm climates with mild winters and can be planted in the spring. Hard neck garlic is great for growing in zone 3 and can withstand the hard, cold winters of the northern climate. Within the two main types there are hundreds of varieties of garlic.

Where to Plant Garlic

Planting garlic in well drained soil is important. It does not like "wet feet" and is susceptible to rot without proper drainage. If your soil does not have good drainage try amending it by adding compost. Consider adding sand if you have particularly heavy soil. Plant in a full sun location that is protected from strong north winds in winter.

When to Plant Garlic in Alberta

Hard necked garlic does best when it is planted in the fall. It is possible to plant garlic early in the spring but you will find that it will not grow to be as large. Plant hard necked garlic 3 to 5 weeks after the first fall frost. If you are growing garlic in Alberta this means planting between October 7th and 15th. Right before Thanksgiving weekend in Canada is often the perfect time to plant your garlic!

How to Plant Garlic

To prepare your garlic for planting, separate you garlic bulbs into cloves. Try to keep the outer shell on the clove as it is less likely to rot. If it does come off you can still try to plant it or else save it for cooking in the near future! Don't plant the smallest inner cloves. Save those to be used in the kitchen.

Plant your garlic cloves 3 to 4 inches deep and 5 to 6 inches apart. Cover with soil. If the soil is dry, water once after planting. If the soil is wet when you plant, skip this watering.

After planting your garlic, cover your soil with 2 to 3 inches of straw. I prefer straw to mulch or leaves as it insulates without holding excess moisture. The straw also works to minimize weeds. In the spring the garlic will poke through the straw but few weeds will make it through.

Once planted, garlic requires little care and is low maintenance until harvest time. Be careful not to over water your garlic as that can cause it to rot or develop mildew.

When to Harvest Garlic Scapes

Garlic scapes are a bonus of growing hard neck garlic! Scapes will start to form in early to mid summer. These scapes form the seed bobuals and if left, the plant will put it's energy into producing seeds instead of growing the garlic bulb. For this reason it is best to harvest garlic scapes by snipping them off once they have curled around into a circle.

Cooking With Garlic Scapes

Garlic scapes taste slightly different than garlic cloves but I find the taste quite pleasant. I have successfully used them in place of garlic cloves in any recipe I blend. Some of these recipes include pesto, soups and pasta sauces. After removing the scapes it is time to quit watering your garlic to allow the skins to harden up and dry out prior to harvesting.

When is Garlic Ready for Harvest?

Around two to three weeks after harvesting garlic scapes, your garlic will be ready for harvest. Look for signs of the bottom one to two leaves turning brown and the browning tips on the remaining leaves. For me in Alberta, this is around the second or third week in August. Once you see these signs it is time to harvest your garlic!

Harvesting Garlic

When harvesting garlic don’t try to pull it. Doing so is difficult and likely to damage the heads. Instead carefully dig up the garlic, loosening the soil around it so it can be gently lifted out. Punctures in the skin or bruising will result in the garlic rotting and not storing as long. If you accidentally damage a head, set that one aside to use up first. Remove large clumps of soil attached to the garlic head with your hand and leave remaining soil.

Garlic Ready to be Harvested

Curing Garlic After Harvest

To cure your garlic after harvest, place the garlic, with the tops still attached, in a place out of direct sunlight with good ventilation to dry for 24 to 48 hours. Once the garlic bulbs have dried, brush off excess soil and broken skin. Trim garlic roots to 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. I like to tie or braid mine and hang in a cool, dark, dry place with good ventilation for 1 to 2 months to finish curing. Garlic can be stored for 6 to 8 months if it is stored in a dark place at 10 - 15°C (50 - 60°F).

Curing Garlic After Harvest

Planting Garlic From Seed

If you decide to allow some of your garlic scapes to go to seed, the seeds that form can be dried and planted in the spring. Garlic takes two years to mature when grown from seed. The seeds can be planted and the growing plants left in the ground to overwinter until the second summer when they are ready to be harvested. To prepare them for winter the first year, cut back the tops to soil level and cover with straw.

Where to Buy Seed Garlic in Alberta

One of my favourite places to order seed garlic for planting from around Calgary, Alberta is Forage and Farms. Their garlic is hardy for zone 3, grows well in cool climates, and has amazing flavour! I would not suggest using garlic from the grocery store unless it is labelled locally grown and organic. Otherwise it may have been treated with a anti growth hormone to keep it from sprouting and may be a variety not suitable for your climate.

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