Garlic end-game and watering

TightenUp · May 31, 2015

My garlic is mulched heavily and not set up with water. I've only watered once during a long windy sunny dry spell this spring. Plant out was November or maybe late October.

My question is should I get some extra water on the garlic late in the season to help it plump up? Does extra water have the same result on garlic as it does tomatoes - bland flavor.

Also - When I worked my tomato beds I fed the garlic fox farms tomato fert and also chikity doo doo. Any benefit to late season feeding? any recommendations? I plant to Harvest early/mid july

Any thoughts appreciated

RayR · May 31, 2015

Garlic needs 1" of water per week throughout the season. It needs a consistent supply of water but like everything else not too much water.
When working your garlic beds for fall planting, add your organic granular fertilizers then. You fertilize in the fall for spring growth.
Our local organic garlic guru/farmer in our area recommends additional fertilizing in the spring no later than early to mid-May. He uses fish hydrolysate and kelp.

Father'sDaughter · June 1, 2015

Yes, regular watering throughout the growing season is needed. When to cut back is just before harvesting, which around here is typically by early to mid July. Aside from enriching the beds with compost in the fall, the farmer I bought my initial seed stock from recommended one feeding with 10-10-10 fertilizer in the spring and that's it, so that's what I do.

May 31, 2015	#1
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	Garlic end-game and watering My garlic is mulched heavily and not set up with water. I've only watered once during a long windy sunny dry spell this spring. Plant out was November or maybe late October. My question is should I get some extra water on the garlic late in the season to help it plump up? Does extra water have the same result on garlic as it does tomatoes - bland flavor. Also - When I worked my tomato beds I fed the garlic fox farms tomato fert and also chikity doo doo. Any benefit to late season feeding? any recommendations? I plant to Harvest early/mid july Any thoughts appreciated __________________

May 31, 2015	#2
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Garlic needs 1" of water per week throughout the season. It needs a consistent supply of water but like everything else not too much water. When working your garlic beds for fall planting, add your organic granular fertilizers then. You fertilize in the fall for spring growth. Our local organic garlic guru/farmer in our area recommends additional fertilizing in the spring no later than early to mid-May. He uses fish hydrolysate and kelp.

June 1, 2015	#3
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Yes, regular watering throughout the growing season is needed. When to cut back is just before harvesting, which around here is typically by early to mid July. Aside from enriching the beds with compost in the fall, the farmer I bought my initial seed stock from recommended one feeding with 10-10-10 fertilizer in the spring and that's it, so that's what I do.