Garlic has many uses in cuisines from around the world. It is also an easy and rewarding crop for home gardeners.

Fall is the ideal time to plant garlic, as a cool period is necessary for the clove to sprout and develop roots over the winter, leading to large bulbs the following summer.

Planting in the fall, typically from early September to early October, allows the root system to develop even if you see little top growth.

Fall planting ensures a robust harvest next June/July. Spring plantings also work, but often result in smaller bulbs.

Understanding garlic types

Two main types of garlic (Allium sativum) are commonly grown: hardneck and softneck.

• Hardneck garlic (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon) is distinguished by a woody flowering stalk, called a scape, that grows through th

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