In this week’s episode of the Good Growing podcast, we chat with Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Nick Frillman about garlic. We dive into growing this tasty spice starting right now, in the fall and then we go through the garlic growing season to harvest. We even talk about our favorite types, uses, and how can we select our harvest for replanting for next year’s crop.

Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/_T7QYXEcUWg

Check out one of Nick’s partner organizations the Illinois Young Farmers Coalition https://www.facebook.com/groups/396398914163736/

3:33 Hello Nick!

10:38 What planting window do you recommend for people in Illinois?

14:08 What if we don’t get our garlic in the ground this fall? Can it still be planted in the spring? Is it too late to order garlic?

15:47 What are the differences between hardneck and softneck garlic?

18:38 What varieties do we grow?

22:38 What’s best for a vampire deterrent? But seriously does garlic deter mosquitoes?

23:52 What about elephant garlic?

25:57 What do we need to consider for a planting location? Can we interplant?

28:48 Since garlic is planted in the fall do we need to do anything after it’s in the ground?

33:07 Do we need to fertilize the garlic?

36:02 What happens if you don’t remove the garlic scape in June?

39:28 How do you know when garlic is ready for harvest?

41:25 What happens after harvest? Can you just use the garlic right away?

43:18 What’s our favorite way to use garlic?

48:38 What is black garlic?

51:06 Can you save garlic for replanting? How do you select for planting?

Check out the Good Growing Blog extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.