The Facts On Growing Store Bought Garlic - Garden Quickie Episode 268

In gardening, as in life, there are things that can be done and there are things that will be done. But in the case of store-bought garlic, is it something that even should be done? I've been growing hardneck garlic for just about 30 years and it's the one crop that I can truly say that I've mastered with near 100% success every season. While store-bought garlic is not a hard no for me every time, it still doesn't get my recommendation. Hi, I'm Jeff from The Ripe Tomato Farms. Welcome back to another episode of The Garden Quickie, the show where in two minutes or less, we're your garlic destination. And today's episode is all about our favourite allium. More specifically, the pros and cons of growing garlic that we find at the grocery store. Should we or shouldn't we? Time's short as you know it is, so let's dive in. Garlic, especially the hardneck kinds, is a long crop. And although it doesn't require a ton of effort to grow, losing a harvest after all that time, well, it really does sting. Why then would we ever risk it? What's the benefit of growing from store-bought garlic? Well, there's two in fact. One, it's cheaper. Significantly cheaper. And two, it's always available. But that's both a help as well as a hindrance. Just because garlic is available to buy doesn't mean it's the right time to plant it. Garlic is a long crop, yes, but it has a relatively short window that you can plant it viably. And just as it may not be the right time to plant your garlic, the stuff in the grocery store might also not be the right type. Which is why it's our first reason we don't do it. Garlic at the grocery store or supermarket is rarely sold by variety. It's garlic, and garlic is garlic. As far as the store is concerned, that's all you need to know. When in fact, to be successful with this crop, you need to grow the right type for your area. Warm climates and those above zone 10 will have a tough time growing the hard net types. And cooler climates like mine, well, we have a hard time with the soft net varieties. After garlic is picked, it stores extremely well. This means that it can be sold out of season and shipped and sold to places where it shouldn't be grown. The wrong variety doesn't even take into account those bulbs sprayed with growth inhibitors or the ones that are super chilled and super dried. All in the name of storage and shelf life. Speaking of, some garlic you find at the store is so old that it's barely viable for consumption, let alone growing into a viable crop. If you do insist on using store-bought garlic to grow, the best bet is locally grown and sourced bulbs that are fresh and in season, ideally mid to late summer. This way you know that the cloves are good, viable, and designed to perform well for your area. The beauty with garlic is that we only ever really need to buy it once, so we might as well get it right. And after you do, make sure to check out some more episodes of the garden quickie. Thanks for watching guys, and hey, if garden quickies are your thing, make sure to subscribe and click on this playlist here as we explore and solve more growing issues in two minutes or less.