Planting Garlic

[countrykat]

I am in Ohio so not sure what type I would have to plant/buy. When I plant it I take an individual clove and plant it correct? I will most likely get it from Burpee. Any suggestions on what type? I would like to have something that is kinda strong.

Thanks

[rainbowgardener]

I grow garlic, but I don't know about varieties, because I have always just bought garlic at the grocery store and planted it (you are right, separate it in to cloves and plant the individual cloves). This year I planted my own garlic that I grew, but that garlic was started from grocery store cloves.

Now is the time to plant garlic, mine is sprouted already.

[countrykat]

Thanks. I ordered some last night from burpee so it should be here this week. Do you leave the skin on or off.

[rainbowgardener]

I take the skin off, but I don't think you really have to.

[Marlingardener]

I leave the paper (skin) on the cloves, since I read somewhere that the paper helps fight off soil-borne diseases. Maybe so, maybe not, but it's one less step in planting!
For next year in Ohio, you may want to consider garlics in one or two of these categories:
Silverskins, which do well in your climate and are long-storing.
Asiatics, which have big cloves and are very productive.
Artichokes, a garlic with a mild flavor, easy to grow, and give big yields.
These are types of garlic, with several named varities within each type. For example, Asiatics are Korean Mountain, Aomori, Asian Tempest, etc.
I suggest that you order early--perhaps in February or March. I usually put my orders in in January, as soon as I get the catalogs. That way I am assured of getting the varieties I want. We are trying Creole Red this year for the first time, and I can hardly wait to taste it!

[countrykat]

Thanks for the replies. I ordered som early italian last night so hopefully it will be here this week so I can get it in the ground.

[Ohio Tiller]

I just checked mine yesterday and I have sprouts poking out of the ground about 2 inches. I pulled back the mulch and had them poking out all over the place.

[countrykat]

Will they still pop up with 3 or 4" of mulch?

[Ohio Tiller]

Will they still pop up with 3 or 4" of mulch?

It does it for me every year.

[rainbowgardener]

It will go dormant through the winter and then start growing again at the end of winter.

[FriedGreenTomatoes]

When You plant the clove do you cover the whole clove, or just half of it?

[rainbowgardener]

Bury the clove so the top of it is about 2" down.

[Ohio Tiller]

Got mine in the mail Saturday and planted 112 cloves yesterday.

[imafan26]

Here's a link to a site that answers many of the garlic questions

http://www.hoodrivergarlic.com/faqs.htm