The Sweet Smell of Success – Growing Garlic For Profit
The smell of garlic is second to none. Plus, the popularity of garlic is continuing to grow. It’s the second most used spice after pepper. So did you know you can make good money growing garlic? You really can. Here’s how to grow garlic for profit:Garlic has a lot of uses. It has been used for cooking and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The ingredients in garlic can lower cholesterol levels, fight bacteria and act as an organic insecticide. Over 300 million pounds of garlic was consumed last year in the United States. It simply is a very popular plant.So how can you grow it for profit? First, there are two main types of garlic: softneck and hardneck. Softneck is what you’ll find in most supermarkets. It is recommended as a small-time grower that you stick to hardneck as it has more flavor and does better in colder climates.Before you start growing, do some research. Ask people and businesses just what garlic varieties they’re looking for. You need to grow what sells. It’s true for any business, and it’s certainly true for a garlic business-you need to sell products that people and businesses want to buy. Once you’ve picked out the varieties you’d like to grow, get growing! It’s recommended you plant your seed cloves in the fall about six weeks before the ground typically freezes. Be careful though, planting too early could lead to pests and disease problems.Remember to have healthy soil. You need soil with a Ph between 6.2 and 6.8. You also need loose soil. Well-drained soil is very important. Waterlogged soil will reduce yields from the lack of oxygen. Consider using raised beds as a great way to grow your garlic. These take less fertilizer and water, and make it possible so you can grow a higher number of yields than normal cropping practices. Before planting, remember to remove weeds, rocks and stones. Using a digging fork, loosen the soil to a minimum of 12″. When you first dig the raised bed, remember to add compost.You’ll need a good organic fertilizer too. A blend that’s high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen will produce a healthy, larger bulb rather than leafy top growth. When you plant the seed cloves, plant them four to six inches apart in staggered rows in your raised bed. As you get more experience growing in raised beds, you could consider growing your garlic four inches apart, the maximum density for garlic growing.As the plants are growing, remember to keep those weeds under control, so they don’t compete with your garlic plants. And don’t forget about watering. The most important time to supply plenty of water is between May and July. But be careful. Don’t water too much or that can lead to disease problems.Before long you’ll have healthy garlic to sell at farmers’ markets, food co-ops, directly to supermarkets and more. There are many ways you can sell your garlic. Soon you’ll be enjoying the sweet smell of success, all from growing garlic for profit.
