As fall draws near, my Better Half has been asking about planting garlic. He loves garlic. I love garlic. Garlic does not love me. However, after sampling some of Mr. L’s homegrown garlic, I am going to make the attempt to grow it.

Here in Zone 5, it is recommended to plant garlic six weeks before the ground freezes. Bulbs should be purchased from nurseries or catalogs because store-bought garlic is often treated to prevent growth and not a native species. It will not make it through the winter. Thank goodness for Mr. L and his donated cloves!

Each clove can be planted 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart. Supposedly, in the spring, the garlic will sprout just ahead of the asparagus. At this time, a light feeding of fertilizer (with a high phosphorous analysis) can be given to the plants. Some gardeners will place garlic in the bed near other plants that are bug prone since garlic may be a deterrent.

Aha. We’ll see if weevils like garlic.