GardenZeus Quick Tips: How to Water Garlic
Before planting garlic cloves, water soil thoroughly. After planting garlic bulbs, briefly water the soil again. Be particularly careful not to overwater cloves immediately after planting as cloves are vulnerable to rotting prior to germination.
Garlic plants are shallow-rooted and prefer moist but not wet soil. Do not allow the soil to dry down completely between waterings and do not saturate the soil. Overwatering or wet soil may result in poor bulb formation, shallow rooting, and rotted or diseased bulbs. Underwatering or dry soil between watering, especially during the first several weeks after germination, may also result in poor bulb formation. Garlic typically needs about an inch of water each week during spring growth.
Garlic requires less water during its last month of growth. Stop watering once the leaves begin to yellow, about 2 to 3 weeks before harvest. Drying out the soil allows the garlic plants to move nutrients from the leaves into the bulbs.
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