Growing

Here are the steps on how to grow and process garlic in Texas:
*1. Prepare the soil.* Garlic prefers well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Amend your soil with compost or manure before planting.
*2. Choose the right variety.* There are two main types of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Hardneck garlic is more flavorful, but it doesn't store as well as softneck garlic. In Texas, it is recommended to plant hardneck garlic varieties such as Music, Chesnok Red, and Purple Stripe.
*3. Plant the garlic cloves.* Plant the garlic cloves in the fall, about 6 weeks before the first frost. Space the cloves 6-8 inches apart and 2 inches deep. The pointy end of the clove should be up.
*4. Water regularly.* Garlic needs about an inch of water per week. Water more often during hot, dry weather.
*5. Fertilize once in the spring.* In the spring, fertilize the garlic with a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10.
*6. Harvest the garlic in the summer.* The garlic is ready to harvest when the leaves have turned yellow and the bottom of the bulbs feel firm. To harvest, loosen the soil around the garlic with a garden fork and then gently pull the bulbs out of the ground.
*7. Cure the garlic.* After harvesting, cure the garlic for several weeks in a cool, dry place. This will help the skin harden and the flavor develop. To cure the garlic, spread the bulbs out on a wire rack in a cool, dry place.
*8. Store the garlic.* Once the garlic is cured, you can store it in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months. Garlic can be stored in a mesh bag, basket, or even a paper bag.
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