Growing Garlic
If you want to grow your very own bad breath this fall, here’s what you need to do ASAP!
Right now, in August, is the perfect time to buy your organic garlic bulbs and pop them in the fridge so they’ll be ready to plant this fall. But here’s the trick - not all garlic is created equal.
Hardneck vs. Softneck Garlic:
Hardneck: Grows best in cold climates, produces fewer cloves, and sends up a flower stalk (“scape”). Not the best choice for Houston. Hardneck varities will have a hard stem that goes through the bulb.
Softneck: Handles warmth better, produces more cloves per bulb, and stores longer. This is the variety we recommend for Houston gardens!
See the difference here!
Why refrigerate them?
Garlic needs a period of cold (called vernalization) to trigger bulb formation.
Since our winters in Houston aren’t reliably cold, we give nature a little nudge by refrigerating the bulbs for 6–8 weeks before planting.
Tips for storing garlic in the fridge:
✔️ Keep bulbs intact (don’t break apart cloves yet).
✔️ Place them in a breathable paper bag, not sealed plastic (we don’t want mold!).
✔️ Tuck them into the crisper drawer and forget about them until planting time.
✔️ It’s best if you can keep the bulbs away from all other produce (best if you have a garage fridge or something similar).
Come October–November, you’ll be ready to tuck those cloves into the garden!
Ready to start growing this fall? We’ll be right over!
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