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FALL PLANTING IN NEW MEXICO Adapted from an article by Ruth Lively in "Fine Gardening" Magazine 1. Prepare the soil: Loose, fertile soild produces big garlic heads. Incorporate 2 to 3 inches of organic matter over the area. Just like tomatoes - don't plant garlic in the same spot two years running. Make several shallow furrows about 6 inches apart. 2. Choose your varieties: Priscilla Logan's Outdoor Classroom uses "Early California". Break apart a large head of garlic and plant only the biggest cloves. Use the smaller ones in cooking. Outdoor Classroom kids plant garlic rounds rather than cloves. Logan's first "planting" came from Stanley Crawford (A Garlic Testament: Seasons on a Small New Mexico Farm) 3. Plant: Garlic cloves are shaped like tulip bulbs. Hold the clove pointed end up, and push it about 2 inches deep in the soil. Final step is to smooth out the soil surface using your fingers or a rake to fill in the holes, and water well. Clearly mark beginning and end of rows. Mulch the rows later (after the soil cools down) with several inches of mulch. 4. Remember to water during the winter months. 5. Harvest the garlic in late spring or early summer - plants should have 5 or 6 green leaves, with no more than 1 or 2 going brown. Very carefully, dig a garden fok under the plants, gently pry, and then pull them out. Move to an airy location protected from sun and rain. 6. Last step - cure, clean, and store: To cure, hang bare bulbs with foliage in bundles. You can use the garlic at this point, but garlic intended for storage must be cured. To clean, trim stalks and roots, rub off outer layer of skin and remove any soil. To store, find a well-ventilated, dark spot. "Without garlic I simply would not care to live." |
