Soil pH and Amendments for Elephant Garlic in Raised Beds

Garlic thrives best in soil that ranges from slightly acidic to neutral in pH, with rich organic matter such as compost to optimize drainage and aeration.

Fall is the ideal season for planting garlic, with crop rotation essential to ensuring its nutrients do not deplete over time. Companion planting with fish meal, chicken manure, kelp meal and rock phosphate helping produce larger bulbs.

Soil pH

Garlic (Allium sativum) thrives best when planted in full sun and well-draining soil rich in organic matter. A good application of compost or well-rotted manure at planting time is one great way to improve soil structure; conducting a soil test to ascertain pH level and nutrient content is recommended as garlic prefers slightly acidic conditions with pH between 6.5-7 pH levels for optimal performance. Amend according to your test results!

Garlic needs moderate-to-high levels of nitrogen fertilization for optimal growth. Before planting, amend your soil with 10-10-10 or Trifecta+ fertilizers and mix to achieve a loose workable consistency. After planting, additional applications of nitrogen should be given in early spring and two weeks later – too much or too little nitrogen could delay bulb formation and lead to root rot issues.

Softneck garlic varieties like Artichoke and Porcini are easier to grow and require less effort than hardneck varieties, which require a vernalization period to thaw and sprout before planting. Softneck varieties also make an ideal choice for gardeners with limited space as rows can be harvested in late fall/early winter and the garlic stems (scapes) eaten as part of salads, soups or stews.

Nitrogen

Garlic requires fertile soil, which can be achieved by adding organic matter or amending with gypsum or sulfur before planting.

Heavy mulch of straw should be applied as an overwintering cover, and soil weed control maintained throughout spring. Once bulbing begins, which can occur anytime from late May through mid-June, garlic plants require regular watering as they grow.

During May, each garlic plant produces a tall stalk with a flower-shaped bud at the top known as a “scape”. This harvest is often sharp in flavor and popular among chefs; cutting scapes encourages larger bulbs to form; they can even be eaten like asparagus, sauteed in oil, or made into pesto! In gardens, cut off as soon as they appear; however flowers should not develop before being cut away.

If you want to produce large bulbs of garlic, space the cloves 6 to 8 inches apart. Garlic requires moderate levels of nitrogen throughout its growing season; add compost or manure before planting to increase levels. Alternatively, foliar fertilizers with high nitrogen content should be applied every ten days or two weeks as a quick boost of nitrogen.

Phosphorous

Garlic is an excellent cool season crop that thrives best in well-drained yet moisture-retaining soil, as well as being fed with rich organic matter like well-rotted manure or compost; or with the application of all-purpose fertilizers such as Bulb+ or Trifecta+ at planting time.

Garlic grows best when planted in soil with an acidic pH range between 6.0 and 7.5, which can be adjusted using lime or sulfur according to your soil test results. When possible, planting garlic bulbs during fall planting is optimal, as this allows their bulbs to go through vernalization similar to frost’s vernalization process, producing larger cloves.

If planting in the fall is impossible, spring is another excellent time for growing garlic. To simulate vernalization effectively in this instance, place the bulbs in a paper bag in the fridge several weeks prior to planting them out.

For optimal harvest results, plant garlic in an area free of other members of the Allium family (such as onions, leeks or chives ) for at least a year to avoid spreading diseases that cause rot, fungal infections and other problems in garlic plants. Practice wide crop rotation and good sanitation measures to further limit disease problems in garlic.

Potash

Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) is an extremely hardy member of the leek family that boasts milder flavor than its more closely related cousin, common garlic. Easy to grow in raised beds, requires less space than most vegetables and generally lacks pests; additionally it stores well for future harvests despite harsh desert climates.

Elephant garlic thrives best when its soils remain evenly moist but not waterlogged, and should ideally have a pH range between 6.5 to 6.8. If needed, apply 1/2 to 1 ton per acre annually of agricultural limestone, wood ash or crushed shells as soil amendment.

Mulching with clean straw or chopped newspaper helps plants retain moisture and nutrients, as well as control weeds. This step is especially beneficial during the initial weeks of growth; thereafter, mulch will feed both crop growth and decompose over time to create organic matter for soil fertility.

As soon as the lower leaves start turning brown, harvest should commence. Bulbs are typically ready when approximately half of their skins remain green; otherwise they must be left for 3-8 weeks in an environment between 45-55deg F and 50% relative humidity to mature properly before being collected or braided together and hung to accelerate curing time. Some growers even braid tops together before hanging them up so as to speed curing times further.