Garlic For A Whole Year

In the first year, I thought it would be fine if I buried grass and added a good layer of grass on top. It didn't work; the cloves started to sprout in January and simply froze. Here in western Sweden, we don't have the snow cover that many other places in the country do, which can make it a bit more complicated since we have freezing nights but often thawing days.

I had to wait for the next autumn, and then both cow and chicken manure came into play, but I actually dug in more grass a bit deeper into the soil first. Garlic needs a lot of nutrients to become large and healthy. When spring arrives, it's the first crop to start growing, and it's truly wonderful to see. Just remember to add more nutrients in the form of cow and chicken manure, and now it's time to layer some grass clippings. This prevents weeds and provides plenty of nourishment for your garlic.

Then it's just a matter of waiting until the garlic foliage begins to yellow and bend; that's when it's time for this year's harvest. Leave the husk on; it's not removed until the drying process is complete. I usually rinse off the soil from the bulbs before drying them in a dry and cool place. Bon Appétit!