October 24, 2003

 

Columbus Day Has Come and Gone: Ideal Time for Planting Garlic

North Dakota gardeners have grown to love garlic over the last several years, according to Ron Smith, North Dakota State University Extension Service horticulturist. Sales have rocketed in supermarkets and more and more garlic is planted each year in backyard gardens.

"While garlic can successfully be grown via spring plantings in April, and harvested in September, larger bulbs will result if the cloves are planted shortly after Columbus Day and harvested after the leaves begin to turn yellow in late August or September," says Smith.

With fall planting, more extensive roots develop, allowing the plant to mine more water and nutrients from the soil than their spring-planted counterparts. The cloves should be planted so that the top of each one (pointed end) is about 3 inches from the soil surface. They should be watered, and then mulched generously with straw after the soil freezes.

"As the mulch is pulled away and the soil warms next spring, the growing tips should emerge," says Smith. "Unless the winter has been extremely severe with little snow cover, emergence should be close to 100 percent."

Smith also notes that this is an appropriate time of year for making salsa for both fresh consumption and canning. "Most of the common salsa recipes call for garlic," he says. NDSU Extension has a circular with suggested recipes for making salsa. To request a copy, contact your local Extension office and ask for publication FN 584: "From Garden to the Table: Salsa!"

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Source: Ron Smith, (701) 231-8161, ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Writer: Teresa Oe, (701) 231-8731, teresa.oe@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu