Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2023 - 64

GARLIC (Allium sativum) AND ELEPHANT GARLIC (A. ampeloprasum)
VARIETIES1
AL
GARLIC
Chesnok Red 4, 6
Creole 5
Duganski 4, 6
Elephant (also called Tahiti) 3, 5
German Extra Hardy 4, 7
Italian 2, 5
Korean Red 4, 6
Music 4, 5
New York White Neck 2, 5
Spanish Roja 4, 5
1
2
3
Abbreviations for state where recommended.
Softneck.
Allium ampeloprasum (Broadleaf Wild Leek)
A
A
4
5
6
Hardneck.
White cloves.
Purple stripped cloves
7
N
N
N
S
O
White outer skin, red cloves.
T
V
A
L
A
A
A
G
K
K
L
L
M
N
N
S
S
T
T
V
V
V
N
T
GA
KY
LA
MS
NC
OK
SC
TN
VA
Most garlic that is available from retail markets tends to
be softneck types. When selecting softneck garlic for planting
be sure to secure a strain of softneck garlic from a local grower
who has had success with fall-planted garlic. Unlike many
strains sold commercially, such a strain should be well adapted
to your area to overwinter. Avoid planting the Creole types of
softneck garlic in the northern range (also called Early, Louisiana,
White Mexican, etc.), because they are not very winter-hardy
and do not keep well. Both the Italian and Creole types have
a white outer skin covering the bulb, but the Italian type has
a pink skin around each clove, whereas the skin around each
Creole clove is white. Elephant-type garlic (milder than regular
garlic and up to four times larger) may not yield very well
when fall-planted in areas with severe cold or extensive freezing
and thawing cycles, which cause heaving. Elephant garlic has
performed well, however, in western North Carolina when it is
well-hilled with soil or mulched with straw. The Italian and Elephant
types take about 220 days to mature.
Many of the most productive Italian garlic strains produce
seed heads prior to harvest. Whether removed as they form or
left intact, they have produced satisfactory yields.
Research in Kentucky and North Carolina has shown that
hardneck types of garlic produce superior yields and are more
winter-hardy than softneck types. Unlike softneck types, which
will produce large numbers of small cloves per bulb; hardneck
garlic will produce bulbs with 7-10 large cloves. Hardneck types
have a hard " seedstalk " (called a " scape " ) that is typically removed
prior to harvest. Scapes are sometimes sold at farmers
markets as a specialty item.
Seed pieces for hardneck garlic are often more expensive
and harder to find than softneck types, but improved winter hardiness
and bulb quality in the spring in Kentucky suggests that
these are preferred for production at more northern latitudes.
Results from these states might not translate to all areas of the
southeastern US. Consult with your local Extension office to
find appropriate cultural information for your area.
64
Soil Fertility. Maintain a soil pH of 6.2 to 6.8. Fertilize according
to soil test recommendations for garlic. In moderately fertile
soils, apply about 75 pounds nitrogen (N) per acre, 150 pounds
phosphate (P2
O5) per acre and 150 pounds potash (K2
O) per acre
and disk about 6 inches deep before planting. When plants are
about 6 inches tall (about March 15), topdress with 25 pounds
per acre nitrogen and repeat the top dressing about May 1. Apply
all top dressings to dry plants at midday to reduce chance of fertilizer
burn.
Because sulfur may be partially associated with the extent
of pungency, you may wish to use ammonium sulfate for the last
top dressing (May 1). If ammonium sulfate is used, make sure
pH is 6.5 to 6.8.
Garlic is commonly grown on muck, sandy, or fine textured
soils as long as they are loose and friable. Use of organic matter
or cover cropping is important.
Planting. Garlic cloves should be planted during the fall because
a chilling requirement must be met for good bulb development.
Plant according to the times listed in the following table
to ensure that good root systems are established prior to winter.
Final bulb size is directly related to the size of the cloves that are
planted. Avoid planting the long, slender cloves from the center
of the bulb and cloves weighing less than 1 gram.
GARLIC PLANTING DATES (cont'd)
AL North
AL South
GA North
GA South
KY East
KY Central
KY West
LA North
LA South
MS
9/15-11/10
10/1-11/30
9/15-11/10
10/1-11/30
9/1-10/1
9/10-10/15
9/15-11/1
9/1-11/30
9/1-11/30
9/15-10/30
2023 Vegetable Crop Handbook for Southeastern United States
Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2023

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