Preparing Garlic Bed

**Durgan** · 09-30-2011, 02:58 PM

30 September 2011 Peparing Garlic Bed 30 September 2011 Peparing Garlic Bed

Garlic bed was prepared for planting about the 25 of October 2011. Preparation was in a slightly raised bed for containment and good drainage. Procedure: A layer of city supplied compost, rototilled into the underlying soil, raked smooth, wood chip mulch applied. The mulch will contain moisture, and limit the effects of the freezing and thawing cycles. It will be moved aside when the garlic cloves are planted. In the Spring the garlic will have no difficulty growing through the mulch.

**sinopa27** · 10-06-2011, 04:35 AM

I love the detail of all your pics!! Don't change a thing. Now I know what to do!! Thanks!!

**sinopa27** · 10-06-2011, 04:37 AM

can I do Shallots the same way?

**Durgan** · 10-08-2011, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by sinopa27

can I do Shallots the same way?

I plant Spanish and cooking in the Spring and have more than I can use. I plant these from bulbs very early in the Spring. Sometimes I plant a box of greenhouse supplied. Both grow about the same size. Onions are very forgiving. Plant, weed and forget, until harvest.

**Lady_V** · 10-08-2011, 12:22 PM

I wish I could have a garlic garden that big!!!! It looks wonderful.

I do have a question - for people who don't have the land for raised gardens, can garlic be done in a container? If yes, what kind and how?

**HappyMama** · 10-08-2011, 12:41 PM

Hi Durgan,

You always do such a beautiful job in your garden, pictures and details. Thanks!

I am getting ready to plant my garlic soon as well. I do 3 different kinds each year and love them.

**Durgan** · 10-08-2011, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Lady_V

I wish I could have a garlic garden that big!!!! It looks wonderful.

I do have a question - for people who don't have the land for raised gardens, can garlic be done in a container? If yes, what kind and how?

Raised bed are not essential. I make the bed simply because it is convenient. You can plant five or ten cloves around the edge of a flower bed. The garlic doesn't intrude and requires only about three inches around the clove for maximum growth. Garlic is one of the easiest plants to grow.

I have no experience with pot growing. All garlic is essentially the same. Just buy healthy looking bulbs, split and plant the cloves. Elephant garlic, so called, is really an onion. Nice but not true garlic.

**Lady_V** · 10-08-2011, 01:10 PM

TY - I don't really have any groundspace (I use to, but the neighbors poured something in my tiny garden that I no longer trust it), but I think I can figure something out and give it a go. Thanks for the inspiration!