Planting Garlic From Cloves in Pots #Gardening

At the end of December, I planted garlic from cloves in pots. I purchased my garlic from the organic section of the grocery store. Since I saw that a number of other gardeners were having success growing garlic from cloves, I wanted to try this method. As a second-year gardener here in 2022, I am attempting to grow more and more vegetables and add new varieties as well. I planted the organic cloves of garlic on New Year's Eve in some amended soil with worm castings. I had to hurry because it takes about six months or more for the garlic to mature and have enough chill hours (4-8 weeks) from the weather. I spaced all of the cloves to be about four inches apart and an inch or so deep in my pot. Some also went into my raised bed. I followed the recommendation to add one to two inches of mulch (I used straw), which will keep the moisture in after watering them in thoroughly. After a couple of weeks in January, the garlic started to show signs of life. I was seriously shocked because at first, I thought weed seeds blew in the pot because we get so much wind during the colder months here in my part of Southern California. However, luckily, the foilage was from the garlic cloves. In the video, I will take you through the process of planting garlic from cloves in pots and then show you my update from the end of January, so it's been a full month of growth. I will keep you posted on my garlic harvest in June or the beginning of July. Stay tuned...

Some helpful books on gardening for beginners are listed below. These are some of the most popular resources and gardeners I am aware of today.

Organic Gardening for Everyone: Homegrown Vegetables Made Easy - No Experience Required!  

The Modern Homestead Garden: Growing Self-sufficiency in Any Size Backyard 

Field Guide to Urban Gardening: How to Grow Plants, No Matter Where You Live 

How To Build a Raised Bed for a Backyard Garden #Gardening

Even if you are in a tiny space and have a balcony or patio, you can still create your own garden oasis. You would just build your raised bed smaller or use the container gardening method. Last week, I shared with you my first summer garden tour so I thought that I would back up and give you a look at how I built the raised beds. I would recommend getting the best quality wood you can afford like cedar or redwood and ensure that it's thick wood because over time your raised bed will have a lot of soil in it and get exposure to watering and the environment (sun, heavy winds, and debris). I did use a water-based stain on the outside of my raised beds to slow down the time I will have to replace them again. So far so good! I'm in Southern California so we have a longer growing season and I'm currently planting my radishes, carrots, peas, lettuce, cabbage, and other leafy vegetables as the weather becomes cooler. This heatwave happened earlier than usual this year, but hopefully, it's settling down now and I can get some cooler crops growing. I will be building two more garden beds closer to next spring to grow a lot more warmer vegetables. The video is below and if you have any questions or suggestions leave them in the comments below. Stay safe and be well.

Additional Resources

Greenhouse and Raised Bed Gardening: 2 books in 1. The Year-Round Self-Sufficiency Guide. Build your own Greenhouse or Raised Bed and Grow Your Own Fruits and Vegetables both indoors and outdoor

Raised Bed Gardening: A Guide to Growing Vegetables in Raised Beds - No Dig, No Bend, Highly Productive Vegetable Gardens: Inspiring Gardening Ideas, Book 11