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This November, Mercer County Horticulturist Justine Gray gave her second annual “Growing Great Garlic” talk at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension office on Parkside Avenue. Gray has over 8 years of experience growing garlic on a commercial farm, in demonstration gardens, and, of course, in her own home garden, where she tests unique varieties and methods. Garlic is a great crop to try at home, as it starts in the fall, bringing hope for spring!
The session was a combination of presentation and hands-on activities, including how to best prepare your seed garlic and tips and tricks for planting. Topics discussed included:
Choosing Your Varieties: The difference between softneck and hardneck garlic, and which types thrive best in our local climate.
Planting Pointers: Essential tips for proper soil preparation and planting depth—the foundation for a strong harvest.
Fertilizing & Care: Understanding how to protect/nourish your plants through the winter and spring.
Harvesting & Curing: Knowing exactly when and how to pull your garlic and the proper curing techniques to ensure long-term storage.
Pests & Diseases: What to watch out for and how to spot the signs early
Participants learned how to split the garlic and then practiced planting it in one of the demonstration gardens! There’s no better way to learn than by doing!
The garden in which the garlic was planted is part of our Rutgers Master Gardeners Parkside Educational Garden, where the food produced is donated to the WIC office and other local food banks.