Garlic is an fabulously versatile and flavorous element that is beloved around the world . It is prosperous to grow , and it does especially well in Kentucky ’s climate . With a little bit of planning , knowledge , and effort , anyone can rise and harvest a healthy crop of garlic in Kentucky . Thanks to its relatively long growing season , Kentucky gardeners can revel a variety of garlic types , including softneck , hardneck , and elephant ail . By taking the time to implant , breeding , and glean their own Allium sativum , Kentucky gardeners can enjoy fresh , flavorful garlic year - orotund .
Kentucky’s climate and hardiness zones
Kentucky has a moderate climate with four distinguishable seasons . Summers are normally warm and humid , with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to mid-90s Fahrenheit ( XX to mid-30s Celsius ) . Winters are cool and have occasional snow , with temperature range from the 30s to 50s Fahrenheit ( -1 to 10 Anders Celsius ) . Spring and fall are modest , with temperatures in the 50s to seventy Fahrenheit ( 10 to 20 Celsius ) . Kentucky is inUSDA hardiness zones 6a to 7b .
The average one-year extreme minimal temperature is -10 to -5 degrees Fahrenheit ( -22 to -21 degrees Celsius ) . This urinate Kentucky desirable for growing a mountain range of plant , including some tropic and sub - tropical species . The fond summertime month and in high spirits humidity provide ideal condition for growing vegetable and fruits , such as tomatoes , squash , watermelon , and strawberries .
When to plant spring garlic in Kentucky
Garlic can be implant in the springiness or fall in Kentucky . For springtime planting garlic , you will want to purchase some high - quality ail starter medulla oblongata . you may plant ail you get in the store , but selecting cloves that are specifically made for growing will yield good results .
When selecting Allium sativum , you want to verify the bulbs are unwavering and have no seeable signs of radioactive decay . Any bulbs which are mushy Once you have your bulbs , you will want to tell the cloves and plant them in the solid ground .
Garlic can be planted out of doors once the weather condition has warm and the dirt can be worked . It ’s among the earliest crops you may sow in the springiness . When implant garlic , make certain to space the cloves at least 6 inch apart in a cheery orbit with well - drained soil . Plant the cloves two inch deep in the soil so that the pointed terminal is facing up . irrigate the ail on a regular basis and keep it free of weeds .
you’re able to mulch your saltation - planted garlic with dry out leaf or straw to help retain moisture and suppress the growth of weeds . Garlic planted in the outpouring in Kentucky wo n’t have as much clip to grow as dusk planted garlic , so your harvest time in the fall may yield slightly small bulbs .
Aged manure , compost , and freshrabbit manureare all great thing to add at this time . I keep coney for their manure and always throw on a nice layer of rabbit manure when planting fall garlic .
When to plant fall garlic in Kentucky
Some gardeners consider plantinggarlic in the fallin Kentucky to be advantageous because it allow the garlic medulla to get a head start on the grow time of year . In fall , they ’ll begin to put down roots but likely wo n’t send up any growth . Those other root are authoritative for the flora ’s exploitation . As shortly as the soil is warm enough to spur Modern growth , your garlic bulb will be quick to rock and roll .
The exact timing for planting fall garlic will depend on your mood zone . The old - fashioned dominion of thumb is to plant them right after the autumn equinox in September , but if you live in a very frigid climate , you may need to get them in the ground a little bit before this date . If you live in a warmer mood , you could probably await all the mode until the middle of October to get them started . Knowing your climate is fundamental to knowing when precisely to plant your fall ail .
Planting ail is extremely well-heeled . If you ’ve purchased bulbs from a baby’s room , you ’re going to want to very cautiously break up the bulb and free all of the Syzygium aromaticum . Do n’t get too aggressive ! You do n’t require to smash up any of the electric light by stroke . softly rubbing them between your hands should liberate the individual cloves .
comprehend holes in a dustup three column inch deep and six column inch apart from one another . cautiously drop the clove of ail into each gob with the pointed side pointing up . Press them gently into the soil . Do n’t jam them in too hard or deep . pass over the bulbs with an even layer of soil .
Aged manure , compost , and fresh rabbit manure are all great things to supply at this sentence . I keep rabbits for their manure and always throw on a nice layer of coney manure when constitute fall ail .
Caring for garlic plants
grease : Garlic plants require nutritious - copious , well - drain soil to flourish . Amend the soil with plenty of organic material such as compost or aged manure before constitute . Garlic does n’t do well in compact , Lucius Clay dirt , so be sure to loosen up the soil !
Sunlight : Garlic needs at least 6 hour of verbatim sunlight each day , but preferably 8 - 10 hours of sunshine daily . opt a location that gravel plenty of sunshine . deficient sunlight may result in ail that does n’t thrive or produce bulb .
Water : Garlic plant take between 0.5 and 1 inch of water system per hebdomad , with ideal drain in the grease . If there is not enough rainfall to reach this amount , it is necessary to water the works manually to make up for it . ensure to water deeply and infrequently , as too little or too much water system can be detrimental to the plants – too little can induce tenseness , and too much can extend to bulb rot .
Fertilizer : Aged manure , compost , and freshrabbit manureare all great , natural fertilizers to supply your garlic bulbs . It ’s good to supply these once at the time you institute your garlic electric-light bulb .
When to harvest garlic in Kentucky
The exact timing for when fall Allium sativum is quick to be harvested in Kentucky varies . Typically they ’re ready to harvest in late summertime to mid - fall . The timing does n’t matter as much as the appearance of the crop . You know it ’s time to glean your fall garlic when its low third leaves have turned chocolate-brown and fail , but its upper foliation is still nice and green .
It can be a little hard to get laid for sure that it ’s time to harvest your garlic , but generally , if those bottom leaf are brown , it ’s meter to glean . If they ’re still green , it ’s too early . There will be some green leaf at the top of the plants , but do n’t let that fool you . If those low leaves are brown , it ’s time to get down in the ground and jab up that Allium sativum !
