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Old October 11, 2011   #2
TomNJ
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Floyd VA
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The number of cloves per head is much more related to the garlic variety than growing conditions. Many people (including me) prefer fewer large cloves than many small cloves, as large fat cloves make easier work when cooking. I like Porcelains and Rocamboles which average about 5-8 fat cloves per bulb. Examples are Russian Red, German White, Estonian Red, Spanish Roja, and Music.

You were correct to harvest in July. The ideal time for home gardeners is to dig the bulbs when there are only about three green or mostly green leaves left, i.e. most of the plant has gone yellow/brown. Leaving them longer will not increase the bulb size and you will lose the bulb wrappers, thus reducing storage.

Bulb size is related to both variety and growing conditions. Garlic does respond to organic soil amendments such as compost, and it likes nitrogen when planting and in the early spring. Experiments have shown that surprisingly garlic size does not respond to additions of phosphorus and potassium like many other bulbs and root crops, but of course you don't want a deficiency of these either. All fertilization should stop by early May.

Garlic is also very sensitive to weeds and sunlight. Be sure to keep them weed free, preferably well mulched, and in full sun. Take care to not break any leaves when working around the plants as this will also reduce bulb size. Garlic plants only have about 10-12 leaves so they need all of these "solar collectors" to flourish.

TomNJ
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