Garlic, similar to ginger or even more, can be used for a lot of things. Many people are finding new ways on how to grow garlic to use them in food, medicine and even in beauty products. Although it easy to grow them, learning how to plant garlic is a different story.

Materials you'll need to grow garlic include compost makers, bypass pruners, fertilizers, garden trowels and garden spades. Other materials are mulch, seeds, plants and shovels.

Step 1 - In early winter or late fall, purchase garlic bulbs at a local nursery. Make do with these since it will be unlikely to find started seedlings already. Then, directly plant the cloves into the ground 6 weeks prior to soil freezing time.

During mild climates, you can start planting in February or January so that you can harvest them during early fall or late summer seasons.

Step 2 - Select a location that has access to full sunlight. Moreover, to grow garlic, the best soil is slightly acid with a pH ranging from 6.2 to 6.8. However, garlic can still grow in soil having a pH of 5.0 to 8.0.

Step 3 - Dig a hole about 8 to 12 in. deep. Then, amend the soil using lots of compost as this can guarantee an ideal combination of moisture retention, good drainage and fertility.

Step 4 - Take out all weed traces. This is since they'll win out over the grass-like foliage of garlic.

Step 5 - Only plant the bulb's largest cloves. Afterwards, discard the tinged or pitted blue green ones because these are signs on mold.

Step 6 - When setting unpeeled cloves, the pointy end should be facing up and they should be 2 in. deep as well as 5 in. apart. The only exception is giant "elephant" garlic that feature a 3 inch depth and a 10 spacing.

Step 7 - Use compost to top-dress the plants. Then, mulch for moisture retention and weed prevention. Do this again after ground freezing in order to protect the plants from the cold.

Step 8 - Take out the mulch during spring in order for the sun to warm the soil. When there is new growth, add up a fresh layer. To grow garlic with large bulbs, you need to cut back the flower stalks that have developed. Then, spray compost tea on the young plants during the spring season. Once or twice will suffice.

Step 9 - Every week, give an inch of water until the time you notice the foliage turning yellow or when it start falling over. This will indicate that the bulbs are already near maturity.

Step 10 - Clip garlic leaves that are to be used whenever necessary. Just remember, the clippings should not exceed •¼ of the top growth of the plant or else, it can reduce bulb size.

Step 11 - Once 3/4 of the garlic tops turn yellow, the bulbs are ready for harvest.