Garlic Team

The Garlic Team specializes in growing premium garlic varieties perfectly suited to Colorado’s climate. We manage the complete garlic growing cycle from fall planting through summer harvest, providing fresh garlic to our community while preserving seed stock for future plantings.

Our Mission

Grow exceptional garlic adapted to Colorado conditions
Preserve garlic varieties through seed saving and sharing
Educate the community about garlic cultivation and uses
Provide fresh garlic to garden members and local community

Why Garlic?

Garlic is the perfect crop for community gardens because:

Long growing season: Planted in fall, harvested in summer
Space efficient: High value crop in small space
Storage capability: Properly cured garlic keeps 6-12 months
Multiple benefits: Food, medicine, and pest deterrent

Our Garlic Varieties

Hardneck Varieties (Best for Colorado)

Music: Large bulbs, excellent flavor, stores well
German Extra Hardy: Very cold tolerant, reliable producer
Chesnok Red: Beautiful red striped bulbs, rich flavor
Metechi: Georgian variety, excellent for cold climates
Romanian Red: Vigorous grower, good for beginners

Softneck Varieties (For Protected Growing)

California Early: Early harvest, good for braiding
Italian Late: Large bulbs, long storage life
Inchelium Red: Mild flavor, excellent for roasting

Specialty Types

Elephant garlic: Actually a leek, mild garlic flavor
Green garlic: Harvested early as scallions
Garlic scapes: The flowering stalks, harvested in spring

The Garlic Growing Cycle

Fall Planting (October-November)

Soil preparation: Adding compost and organic matter
Clove selection: Choosing the best seed garlic
Planting: Individual cloves 4-6 inches apart
Mulching: Heavy mulch layer for winter protection

Winter Care (December-February)

Monitoring: Checking mulch and winter protection
Planning: Ordering new varieties and planning expansions
Education: Indoor workshops and skill-building
Preparation: Getting ready for spring growth

Spring Growth (March-May)

Emergence: Watching for green shoots
Fertilizing: Side-dressing with compost or organic fertilizer
Weeding: Keeping beds clean and weed-free
Scape harvest: Cutting flower stalks for better bulb development

Summer Harvest (June-July)

Monitoring: Watching for harvest indicators
Harvesting: Careful digging and handling
Curing: Proper drying and preparation for storage
Distribution: Sharing the harvest with community

What We Do

Growing Operations

Bed management: Maintaining dedicated garlic growing areas
Soil building: Annual compost additions and soil testing
Variety trials: Testing new varieties for local adaptation
Pest management: Organic approaches to garlic growing

Harvest & Processing

Harvest coordination: Organizing community harvest events
Curing management: Proper drying and storage techniques
Quality sorting: Grading bulbs for eating vs. seed stock
Distribution planning: Fair sharing among participants

Education & Outreach

Growing workshops: Teaching garlic cultivation techniques
Cooking classes: Showing garlic uses and preservation
Variety tastings: Comparing flavors and characteristics
Seed saving: Teaching proper selection and storage

Current Projects

2025 Initiatives

Variety expansion: Adding 3 new hardneck varieties
Curing facility: Building dedicated drying and storage space
Community bulb sales: Offering surplus garlic to members
Recipe collection: Gathering favorite garlic recipes

Ongoing Programs

Annual garlic festival: Celebrating harvest with community feast
Seed exchange: Trading varieties with other gardens
Preservation workshops: Teaching braiding, storing, and preserving
Health education: Learning about garlic’s medicinal properties

Get Involved

Team Meetings

When: Third Sunday of each month, 2:00 PM
Where: Garden meeting area or team member’s home
Contact: [email protected]

Ways to Participate

Growing assistants: Help with planting, weeding, and harvest
Processing volunteers: Assist with cleaning, curing, and storage
Education helpers: Support workshops and demonstrations
Recipe developers: Share and test garlic recipes

Great for Gardeners Who…

Love to cook: Appreciate fresh, flavorful ingredients
Enjoy long-term projects: Like crops that span multiple seasons
Want guaranteed success: Garlic is very reliable in Colorado
Value storage crops: Appreciate food that keeps through winter

Garlic Growing Calendar

September-October: Preparation

Soil testing: Checking pH and nutrient levels
Bed preparation: Adding compost and organic matter
Seed ordering: Sourcing quality seed garlic
Tool preparation: Sharpening and cleaning equipment

October-November: Planting

Clove separation: Breaking apart bulbs just before planting
Planting: Setting cloves 2 inches deep, 4-6 inches apart
Mulching: Applying 4-6 inch layer of straw or leaves
Record keeping: Noting varieties and planting locations

December-February: Winter Care

Mulch monitoring: Ensuring adequate winter protection
Planning: Designing next year’s garlic beds
Education: Learning about varieties and techniques
Tool maintenance: Preparing for spring activities

March-May: Spring Growth

Emergence watching: Celebrating first green shoots
Fertilizing: Side-dressing with compost or organic fertilizer
Weeding: Keeping beds clean for strong growth
Scape harvest: Cutting flower stalks in late spring

June-July: Harvest Time

Harvest timing: Watching for proper indicators
Digging: Careful harvest to avoid damage
Initial cleaning: Removing excess soil and roots
Curing setup: Beginning the drying process

August-September: Post-Harvest

Final cleaning: Trimming roots and stems
Quality sorting: Separating eating garlic from seed stock
Storage: Proper storage for maximum keeping quality
Planning: Selecting seed for next year’s planting

Garlic Growing Tips

Site Selection

Full sun: Garlic needs 6+ hours of direct sunlight
Well-drained soil: Avoid areas that stay wet
Rich soil: High organic matter for best bulb development
Crop rotation: Don’t plant garlic where onions grew recently

Planting Success

Quality seed: Use only the best bulbs for planting
Proper depth: 2 inches deep in Colorado’s climate
Fall timing: Plant 4-6 weeks before hard freeze
Mulch heavily: Protect from temperature fluctuations

Care Throughout Season

Consistent moisture: Water deeply but infrequently
Weed control: Keep beds clean for best growth
Scape removal: Cut flower stalks to promote bulb development
Stop watering: Reduce irrigation 2-3 weeks before harvest

Harvest & Storage

Harvest Indicators

Lower leaves brown: Bottom 1/3 of plant turns brown
Green leaves remain: Top leaves still green for protection
Bulb wrapper: Papery skin forms around bulb
Timing: Usually early to mid-July in Colorado

Proper Curing

Air circulation: Hang or lay out with good airflow
Shade drying: Keep out of direct sunlight
Temperature: 80-90°F ideal for initial curing
Duration: 2-4 weeks for complete curing

Storage Methods

Cool, dry place: 32-40°F with low humidity
Good ventilation: Air circulation prevents mold
Proper containers: Mesh bags, baskets, or braids
Regular checking: Remove any bulbs showing problems

Uses for Garlic

Culinary Applications

Fresh eating: Raw in salads, salsas, and marinades
Cooking: Roasting, sautéing, and flavoring dishes
Preservation: Pickled garlic, garlic powder, garlic salt
Scapes: Young flower stalks used like green onions

Health Benefits

Immune support: Natural antimicrobial properties
Heart health: May help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure
Antioxidants: Rich in compounds that fight inflammation
Traditional medicine: Used for centuries for various ailments

Garden Benefits

Pest deterrent: Natural repellent for many garden pests
Companion plant: Benefits many vegetables when interplanted
Soil improvement: Deep roots help break up compacted soil
Disease suppression: May help suppress some soil-borne diseases

Contact the Garlic Team

Team Leader: [Name] - [email protected]
Growing Coordinator: [Name] - [email protected]
Harvest Coordinator: [Name] - [email protected]
General Questions: [email protected]

Join the Garlic Team and discover the satisfaction of growing this amazing bulb from clove to harvest! There’s nothing quite like the flavor of homegrown garlic.