Garlic is a versatile and flavorful ingredient that is easy to grow in most parts of the world, including Kansas. With its mild climate and plenty of sun, Kansas is an ideal location for growing garlic. With just a few simple steps, you can have your own garlic patch that yields a delicious bounty. All you need is some soil, proper spacing, and some know-how to get your garlic patch up and running. Garlic is a hardy crop and can be grown in almost any soil type, making it a great option for those just starting out their gardening journey. With just a little bit of effort, you too can be a garlic-growing master in Kansas.
Kansas’s climate and hardiness zones
Kansas is located in the Midwestern United States and has a continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Summers are generally hot, with temperatures averaging in the mid to high 80s Fahrenheit (25-30 degrees Celsius). Winters are generally cold and dry, with temperatures averaging in the teens Fahrenheit (-5-10 degrees Celsius). The state receives plenty of sunshine during the summer months, but can also experience severe storms and tornadoes. Kansas’s climate is suitable for growing garlic.
Kansas is divided into five distinct USDA hardiness zones, ranging from Zone 5a in the northwest to Zone 7a in the southeast. Zone 5a is characterized by cold temperatures, with an average annual minimum temperature of -20 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 to -26 degrees Celsius). While zone 6a has an average annual minimum temperature of -10 to -5 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 to -21 degrees Celsius).
Zone 6b has an average annual minimum temperature of 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 to -15 degrees Celsius). Zone 7a has an average annual minimum temperature of 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 to -12 degrees Celsius). Finally, Zone 7b has an average annual minimum temperature of 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 to -9 degrees Celsius).
When to plant spring garlic in Kansas
Garlic can be planted in the spring or fall in Kansas. For spring planting garlic, you will want to purchase some high-quality garlic starter bulbs. You can plant garlic you find in the store, but selecting cloves that are specifically made for growing will yield better results.
When selecting garlic, you want to make sure the bulbs are firm and have no visible signs of decay. Any bulbs which are mushy Once you have your bulbs, you will need to separate the cloves and plant them in the ground.
Garlic can be planted outdoors once the weather has warmed and the soil can be worked. It’s among the earliest crops you can sow in the spring. When planting garlic, make sure to space the cloves at least 6 inches apart in a sunny area with well-drained soil. Plant the cloves two inches deep in the soil so that the pointed end is facing up. Water the garlic regularly and keep it free of weeds.
You can mulch your spring-planted garlic with dried leaves or straw to help retain moisture and suppress the growth of weeds. Garlic planted in the spring in Kansas won’t have as much time to grow as fall planted garlic, so your harvest in the fall may yield slightly smaller bulbs.
Aged manure, compost, and fresh rabbit manure are all great things to add at this time. I keep rabbits for their manure and always throw on a nice layer of rabbit manure when planting fall garlic.
When to plant fall garlic in Kansas
Some gardeners consider planting garlic in the fall in Kansass to be advantageous because it allows the garlic bulbs to get a head start on the growing season. In fall, they’ll begin to put down roots but likely won’t send up any growth. Those early roots are important for the plant’s development. As soon as the soil is warm enough to spur new growth, your garlic bulbs will be ready to rock and roll.
The exact timing for planting fall garlic will depend on your climate zone. The old-fashioned rule of thumb is to plant them right after the autumn equinox in September, but if you live in a very cold climate, you may want to get them in the ground a little bit before this date. If you live in a warmer climate, you can probably wait all the way until the middle of October to get them started. Knowing your climate is key to knowing when exactly to plant your fall garlic.
Planting garlic is extremely easy. If you’ve purchased bulbs from a nursery, you’re going to want to very carefully break up the bulb and free all of the cloves. Don’t get too aggressive! You don’t want to smash any of the bulbs by accident. Gently rubbing them between your hands should liberate the individual cloves.
Dig holes in a row three inches deep and six inches apart from one another. Carefully drop the cloves of garlic into each hole with the pointed side pointing up. Press them gently into the soil. Don’t jam them in too hard or deep. Cover the bulbs with an even layer of soil.
Aged manure, compost, and fresh rabbit manure are all great things to add at this time. I keep rabbits for their manure and always throw on a nice layer of rabbit manure when planting fall garlic.
Caring for garlic plants
Soil: Garlic plants require nutrient-rich, well-draining soil to thrive. Amend the soil with plenty of organic material such as compost or aged manure before planting. Garlic doesn’t do well in compacted, clay soils, so be sure to loosen up the soil!
Sunlight: Garlic needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day, but preferably 8-10 hours of sunlight daily. Choose a location that gets plenty of sunlight. Insufficient sunlight may result in garlic that doesn’t thrive or produce bulbs.
Water: Garlic plants need between 0.5 and 1 inch of water per week, with ideal drainage in the soil. If there is not enough rainfall to reach this amount, it is necessary to water the plants manually to make up for it. Make sure to water deeply and infrequently, as too little or too much water can be damaging to the plants – too little can cause stress, and too much can lead to bulb rot.
Fertilizer: Aged manure, compost, and fresh rabbit manure are all great, natural fertilizers to provide your garlic bulbs. It’s best to provide these once at the time you plant your garlic bulbs.
When to harvest garlic in Kansas
The exact timing for when fall garlic is ready to be harvested in Kansas varies. Typically they’re ready to harvest in late summer to mid-fall. The timing doesn’t matter as much as the appearance of the crop. You know it’s time to harvest your fall garlic when its lower third leaves have turned brown and died, 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 garlic, 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 green foliage at the tops of the plants, but don’t let that fool you. If those lower leaves are brown, it’s time to get down in the ground and dig up that garlic!
