Planting Garlic

I've been planting garlic over the last week or so. I don't have any idea what I'm doing. This is not a "how to" but more of a "Is this what I'm supposed to do?"

Head of garlic, soon to be planted.

Garlic, like onions, has not worked out for me. But I'm stubborn and I will not be defeated by an allium. So I will be victorious. In truth I tried garlic last year and had mild success. The best one grew in a garden where I did not plant it - so I thought it was a weed. When I yanked it out I was very excited to see one big head of garlic that was snappy and delicious. So I'm taking the garlic challenge again, for better or for worse. 

I got a great deal on garlic for planting!

I scored about 50 heads of garlic from a local source. I was very happy to give the finger to those big seed places and their expensive garlic starts and big shipping charges. I got some Music and German Northern varieties. I think I paid about $9 total for all 50 heads of garlic.  My plan was to plant in several locations - well away from those pesky chickens and all their pecking around. I'm pretty sure some of my hennies yanked up some of the starts this spring.

Breaking apart the heads was the hardest part.

I got my bad soil prepared as best I could, hoed up some trenches, and plopped in the individual cloves. Per the instructions I planted them about 2 inches deep and 3 or 4 inches apart.

Planting each clove.

And so I remember.... I planted 3 or 4 rows in the upper garden by the wonky little tree, 3 long rows by the unproductive apple tree, and 3 short rows by the asparagus bed by the other unproductive apple tree. By the way, them little apple trees had better get with the program or they are getting the axe.

Today I plan to plant the rest of the Music variety in the new garden bed by the truck turn around. I'll never remember but hopefully I'll have enough sense to look at this later. And next spring when I say, "Hey does anyone remember where I planted that garlic?" I'm hoping someone will remind me.

We look to have a couple warm days then it will cool off again. Now that the garden is closing up shop I'm finishing up the fall planting and have begun my clearing project with vigor. If you see smoke in my direction then its me having the mutha-of-all-burn-piles. But, um.. don't call the fire department... I've likely got it under control. Probably.

Happy Saturday everyone! Am I doing this garlic thing right?