watering garlic

Many areas of the country will constantly watering their garlic, and while there are regions of the United States that get plenty of rain and don't have to think about watering. During periods of drought the following information may be handy.

Garlic is really two plants in one. The vigorous, green, leafy vegetable that benefits from ample water (just like any other rapid vegetative or salad green plant), and the bulb of the garlic that generally starts forming the last 4-6 weeks prior to harvest. The watering schedule used on most leafy green vegetables in the garden won't be too much for garlic in spring.

Under watering can result in too much air in the soil and can produce compaction. Overwatering may cause rot if the ground is not allowed to dry out. This cycle of soil moisture from one extreme to the other is not ideal. The goal it to add enough water that the roots remain moist, without over saturating or allowing the ground to completely dry out.

Ample water levels during the growth stage will be between 50% to 90%. When moisture is below 50% the plants spend extra energy searching for moisture. So how do you determine when the soil is at 50 percent? The easiest method is to brush away a few inches of top soil and grab a hand full of dirt and form it into a ball (we usually do this the day after watering). If the ball is soggy, slimy, or muddy the soil is too wet. If you can't even form a ball, and it just crumbles it is too dry. The method is fast and simple and has worked for centuries.

As the garlic begins to bulb out, it will require less water. We start tapering off water in June, or about 4 weeks prior to harvest (however the roots should still have access to moisture). Drying out the surface soil before harvest so that the maturing bulbs aren't as susceptible to mold, fungi, or staining.

For example, in April and May Garlic Gods will water the garlic field for 4 hours every 3-4 days. We live in a desert climate with very low humidity - again, check your soil content. As harvest draws closer we will water between 2-3 hours every 4-5 days. The last 2 weeks we generally will not water so the bulbs can begin to dry down while still in the ground.

Some people will not be able to stop the watering. Nature always plays a role and your weather, climate, and annual rainfall will naturally determine those final weeks. Over the years, even though we live in a desert, we have had heavy rain storms, as well as drought conditions prior to harvest. If you do get heavy rain prior to harvest, due your best to remove as much dirt / mud before hanging your garlic to cure.

**Typical garlic harvest will be in mid June to late July, depending on your USDA growing zone and your weather. The bulb development happens the last few weeks that the garlic is in the ground. The leaves will help you to determine when to harvest, but if you are still questioning, just remove dirt away from the base of the plant without disturbing the roots. You will be able to see the bulb, and if it still appears small (like the base of a green onion) then replace the dirt and allow it to continue growing. - More information will be sent closer to harvest.