Market Farming

[pam AT twinoaks.org]

If you're growing garlic and you haven't got a 
copy of Ron Engeland's book "Growing Great 
Garlic", I strongly recommend you get it. Only 
$12.95, and will pay for itself in saved mistakes 
in no time!
        On storage he says below 40F or above 
50F. Between those temperatures you have the 
best possible sprouting temperatures! Good for 
your seed garlic but not for eating later. Ideal 
storage is 36-39F or 60-70F. Dryish air (not 
damp) with good air circulation.
        On selecting seed garlic he recommends 
bulbs 2-2 1/2 inches in diameter (for hardneck 
garlic). The giant bulbs are more likely to be 
irregular and have tiny cloves mixed in.
        About planting dates - Marlin, I wonder if 
this is what happened to you? Ron says if you 
plant too early you can get very big bulbs, but 
they don't have a high dry matter content and 
will shrivel after harvest.
        We've been using this book for several 
years, and our garlic has gone from strength to 
strength.
        Pam, Twin Oaks, Central Virginia