Garlic is an gentle - to - grow craw that can be grown in West Virginia . It thrives in the country ’s climate , which has hot summers and cold-blooded winters . Garlic can be reap in the late summertime to former fall and stored for months , giving you a great crop for yr - round manipulation . Growing garlic in West Virginia can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience for any nurseryman . With the proper preparation and care , you could be sure to produce a plenteous crop of delicious garlic .
West Virginia’s climate and hardiness zones
West Virginia has a humid , continental climate , with frigid winter and hot summer . The state ’s location in the Appalachian Mountains makes it prone to heavy rain and snow . The middling annual temperature in West Virginia is around 52 ° F ( 11 ° C ) .
West Virginia lies withinUSDA hardiness zones 5b to 7a . The northern part of the state is in geographical zone 5b , where winters are cold , with intermediate low-toned temperatures near -10 ° F ( -23 ° C ) . The southern part of the state of matter is in zone 7a , where winters are mild , with fair low-spirited temperature around 0 ° F ( -18 ° C ) . The average first frost engagement in West Virginia is around October 15th . The average last frost day of the month is around April 25th .
When to plant spring garlic in West Virginia
Garlic can be plant in the spring or fall in West Virginia . For fountain planting garlic , you will want to buy some high - lineament garlic freshman bulb . you’re able to plant garlic you find in the store , but selecting Eugenia aromaticum that are specifically made for grow will yield better resolution .
When selecting garlic , you need to ensure the medulla oblongata are firm and have no seeable polarity of decline . Any bulbs which are mushy Once you have your bulbs , you will need to separate the Syzygium aromaticum and plant them in the background .
Garlic can be planted out of doors once the weather has warmed and the dirt can be forge . It ’s among the early crop you’re able to sow in in the leaping . When planting Allium sativum , ensure to space the cloves at least 6 in aside in a cheery domain with well - drain grime . Plant the cloves two inches mystifying in the grease so that the pointed end is facing up . Water the garlic on a regular basis and keep it free of weeds .
you may mulch your leaping - planted garlic with dried leaves or straw to assist hold wet and suppress the growing of weeds . Garlic planted in the outpouring in West Virginia wo n’t have as much time to grow as fall planted ail , so your harvest in the dip may move over somewhat smaller bulbs .
elderly manure , compost , and freshrabbit manureare all great things to contribute at this prison term . I keep rabbits for their manure and always throw on a skillful layer of lapin manure when plant fall garlic .
When to plant fall garlic in West Virginia
Some gardeners regard plantinggarlic in the fallin West Virginia to be advantageous because it permit the garlic bulb to get a fountainhead commence on the growing time of year . In decline , they ’ll set out to put down roots but likely wo n’t send up any outgrowth . Those early roots are important for the plant ’s development . As soon as the soil is warm enough to goad raw growth , your garlic bulb will be quick to rock and roster .
The exact timing for planting fall ail will depend on your clime zone . The old - fashioned rule of thumb is to plant them right after the autumn equinox in September , but if you hold up in a very cold climate , you may desire to get them in the primer coat a little bit before this escort . If you hold out in a warmer mood , you could credibly wait all the manner until the centre of October to get them begin . Knowing your climate is key to knowing when on the dot to institute your fall garlic .
Planting garlic is extremely easy . If you ’ve buy bulbs from a nursery , you ’re going to want to very carefully violate up the bulb and complimentary all of the cloves . Do n’t get too aggressive ! You do n’t want to ruin any of the electric light by accident . Gently rubbing them between your hands should release the individual cloves .
Dig holes in a row three inches deep and six inches aside from one another . Carefully drop the cloves of ail into each hole with the pointed side pointing up . Press them softly into the stain . Do n’t jam them in too arduous or mystifying . Cover the bulbs with an even layer of soil .
Aged manure , compost , and fresh rabbit manure are all great things to tote up at this time . I keep cony for their manure and always throw on a nice stratum of rabbit manure when planting decline garlic .
Caring for garlic plants
Soil : Garlic plants demand nutritious - fat , well - enfeeble soil to thrive . meliorate the dirt with plenty of constituent material such as compost or aged manure before planting . Garlic does n’t do well in compacted , the Great Compromiser soils , so be sure to tease up the ground !
sun : Garlic require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each Clarence Day , but rather 8 - 10 60 minutes of sunshine daily . select a location that gets plenty of sunlight . Insufficient sunshine may result in ail that does n’t thrive or raise bulb .
water supply : Garlic plants need between 0.5 and 1 inch of water per week , with ideal drain in the soil . If there is not enough rainfall to reach this amount , it is necessary to irrigate the plants manually to make up for it . verify to water deep and infrequently , as too little or too much water can be prejudicial to the plant – too little can cause emphasis , and too much can top to bulb bunkum .
plant food : Aged manure , compost , and freshrabbit manureare all great , natural fertilizer to allow your garlic bulb . It ’s best to provide these once at the prison term you establish your garlic medulla oblongata .
When to harvest garlic in West Virginia
The accurate timing for when downslope garlic is ready to be harvested in West Virginia varies . Typically they ’re ready to harvest in late summertime to mid - fall . The timing does n’t count as much as the appearance of the harvest . You know it ’s time to harvest your fall ail when its low third leafage have wrick brown and croak , but its upper foliage is still nice and green .
It can be a little hard to know for sure that it ’s time to harvest your ail , but generally , if those bottom leaves are brown , it ’s time to harvest . If they ’re still green , it ’s too early . There will be some light-green foliation at the tops of the plants , but do n’t let that fool you . If those low-spirited leave are brown , it ’s time to get down in the solid ground and jab up that garlic !
