Notes:
Succeeds in most soils but prefers a sunny location in a moist light well-drained soil. Dislikes very acid soils. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.5 to 8.3. The bulb is liable to rot if grown in a wet soil. Hardy to at least 14°F. The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply.
Garlic has a very long history of use as a food and a medicine. It was given to the Egyptian labourers when building the pyramids because it was believed to confer strength and protect from disease and it was also widely used by the Romans. It is widely cultivated in most parts of the world for its edible bulb, which is used mainly as a flavoring in foods. There are a number of named varieties. Bulb formation occurs in response to increasing day length and temperature. It is also influenced by the temperature at which the cloves were stored prior to planting. Cool storage at temperatures between 32 and 50°F will hasten subsequent bulb formation, storage at above 77°F will delay or prevent bulb formation. Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes. This plant is a poor companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.
Plant out the cloves in late autumn for an early summer crop. They can also be planted in late winter to early spring though yields may not be so good. Plant the cloves with their noses just below the soil surface. If the bulbs are left in the ground all year, they will often produce tender young leaves in the winter.
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