Alaska Garlic FAQ: Cold Climate Growing Tips from a Local Farmer
Growing garlic in Alaska comes with its own set of rules, rhythms, and surprises. I’ve been planting, mulching, feeding, and harvesting garlic here for years and I get a lot of questions from other gardeners trying to make it work in our unique climate. Here are some of the most common questions I hear along with real answers based on my experience growing garlic in the far North.
Alaska Garlic FAQ
Q: When do you plant garlic in Alaska?
A: I usually plant the last week of September, but I’ve gone as late as mid-October when fall runs long. The key is getting it in once the soil cools down but before the ground freezes. You want it to root in, not sprout.
Q: What garlic varieties grow best here?
A: Hardneck types are what thrive in our climate. I’ve had the most success with Music, German Extra Hardy, Northern White and Chesnok Red. They can handle our deep freezes and still give nice, bulbs by August.
Q: Do you mulch your garlic?
A: Always. I use straw, leaves, or even shredded paper if I’m in a pinch. Without mulch, the freeze-thaw cycle can push the cloves up out of the soil or dry them out. I aim for about 4–6 inches, then I pull it back in spring once the snow’s gone. We plant our garlic slightly deeper in Alaska.
Q: When do garlic scapes show up in Alaska?
A: For me, it’s usually the second or third week of July. If it’s been a warm spring, they’ll show up a little sooner. Once I see that curl in the stem, I cut them right away to help the plant focus on bulb growth. Be sure not to clip any leaves as they are needed for the transition to bulb production.
Q: How do you know when to harvest garlic?
A: I wait until the bottom 3–4 leaves turn yellow and start to dry out, but the top leaves are still green. That’s usually around the third week of August. Too early and the bulbs are small; too late and the wrappers split.
Q: Can garlic survive our winters without protection?
A: I’ve had a few stray cloves overwinter without mulch, but they’re usually smaller and slower to come up. If I want a reliable crop, I mulch and make sure they’re planted at least 3–4 inches deep. Alaska winters aren’t the place to cut corners.
Q: Do you fertilize your garlic?
A: Yes, and it makes a huge difference. I feed with nitrogen-heavy fertilizer in early spring as soon as the shoots pop up, then switch to something lower in nitrogen around June to support bulb production. Organic fish emulsion or blood meal early on, then I taper it off.
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