Instructions:
Use only good heads of garlic.
Take a large pot and fill it with potting soil.
Separate the cloves and place them vertically to a depth of one inch.
Cover the cloves with an inch of soil. Keep the pot in an area that gets full sun.
Water the pot when it begins to dry out, as with any houseplant.
Cut the greens when they are 3-4 inches tall and leave an inch so they can grow back.
Take note of this as well:
At some point, the greens will stop growing. When they dry out and turn brown, detach the cloves and each one should have formed a full bulb. Take a clove from that bulb and start all over again.
When to plant garlic
In the fall, plant cloves in well-drained beds after the first frost and the soil is cold. Cloves can also be planted in late winter as soon as the ground thaws, but garlic planted in the fall produces larger, better quality bulbs.
Garlic likes a lot of moisture, but will start to develop yellow leaves if left wet for too long. Since garlic likes the cold, experimenters in zones 9 to 11 might choose to match another variety. On the bright side, you can also grow elephant garlic following the same instructions. In general, it’s much more effective than its smaller cousin in warmer climates.
Types of garlic to try
Soft-necked types grow best in mild winters, although some are cold tolerant to zone 5. Most varieties do not produce scapes (curly, edible flower stalks), but soft necks are great for braiding. Subtypes include Creole, Artichoke and many Asian varieties.
Hardneck types adapt to cold winter climates and all produce delicious curly landscapes in early summer. Popular subtypes include porcelain, purple striped and rocambole varieties.
