Spring:
- From about March 1st to July 1st, water a minimum of 1 inch per week.
- Around the beginning on June, you will notice a curly part form with a little seed pod at the end. This is the scape and needs to be cut off to promote bulb growth. See information on scapes at the bottom of the page.
- Garlic naturally wants to start drying down after July 1st, so stop watering and leave it to Mother Nature to provide the rain.
- Weeds are a very aggressive competitor for garlic - try to keep your patch weed free.
- Apply a regular garden fertilizer (15-15-15) in early spring using 1 pound of fertilizer to 10 feet of garlic
- About 1 month later you can fertilize again (top dress) with a nitrogen fertilizer.
- Do not use any fertilizer after May 1st.
Growing Shallots
Planting:
- Can be planted in the fall or spring. If there is not enough snow cover over the winter, there can be growth problems resulting in smaller bulbs. That is why we suggest early spring planting. Bulbs planted in April will be ready the latter part of July, those planted in the fall will be ready the next summer.
- Plant in full sun with the root scar down and pointed end up; space bulbs about 5-6 inches apart in rows that are 18 inches apart with the tops barely below the soil.
- Sandy loam or loam soils are the best. If you have clay soils, it is best to use raised beds. The ideal PH is 6.5 to 6.8
- Water often - 1 to 1.5 inches per week - especially in the beginning. Don't allow the soils to dry out until the bulbs start to dry down.
- Compost or fertilizer are excellent additions to your soil whether you are organic or conventional. Like garlic, you want to keep the area weed free.
What are Garlic Scapes? Garlic scapes are long, thin loops that form on the top of the garlic stem on hardneck garlic varieties beginning in late May through early June. Scapes should be removed from the plant as they appear - cut or break them off - so the garlic's energy can be concentrated on growing larger bulbs. All of Alpha Garlic Farm's garlic are hardneck varieties, which makes the scapes a real bonus! They have a mellow garlic flavor that can be used in soups and stews or sautéed with other vegetables. Add them to salads, omelets, or roast them on the grill. The possibilities are endless!
Growing Garlic
Planting:
- In the fall - about 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes
- Separate the bulb into cloves and plant them about 4 inches deep with the narrow pointy part up. Plant in rows about 6 inches apart.
- Mulch with about 3-4 inches of straw. This can be done after the first frost and will protect your plants from winter heaving.
Harvesting and Storage:
- Harvest shallots when the tops are drying.
- Pull up the clusters and cure in a warm but shady place with ventilation.
- Store your shallots in mesh bags (like onion sacks) in a cool dry area. They can be stored for up to 8 months if kept at their optimum storage temperature of 35 - 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Alpha Garlic Farm
518.429.1516
Garlic and shallots are not difficult to grow and there are very few things that add as much flavor to your cooking. Whatever your level of gardening expertise, Alpha Garlic Farm's shallots and garlic will not let you down.
If you're not ready to grow your own yet, Alpha Garlic Farm's garlic, shallots, and fingerlings are GREAT TASTING - you can order and enjoy them in your recipes as soon as they arrive!
Click here to go directly to our order page:
Remember - all our prices are FULL POUNDS
Contact Us
259 Salt Springville Rd
Fort Plain NY 13339
Neal and April:
518.429.1516
518.312.7902
alphagarlic@gmail.com
Harvesting:
- The garlic is ready to harvest when 2 to 3 bottom leaves turn brown - around the middle of July in New York and most of New England. It is better to harvest a few days early than too late.
- Allow bulbs to cure for 10-14 days before trimming stems and roots. We have done some trials to determine if removing the root and 6-8 inches of stem at harvest works well - it's been a success. This leaves less bulk to dry out.
- Dry for about 4 weeks out of direct sunlight in a place that has good airflow.
- You may also use garlic as soon as it's harvested. It is a little harder to peel, but just as delicious!