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Prepare a well-groomed seedbed of rich compost or composted
manure. Break the bulb into individual cloves.
Plant cloves 5-6" deep and 4-6" apart, mid to late October. (Time frames are for central Maine, Zone 4.) Mulch with 4-6" of hay, leaves or straw. In spring, pull back mulch from around the emerging garlic tips. Top dress or foliar feed, and provide adequate moisture during the growing season to encourage the formation of larger bulbs. Cut off the flower stalks, known as scapes, from Rocambole garlic as they curl around; eat them green, compost them, or dry them for winter arrangements. If you leave the stalks on, the underground bulbs may be smaller. You can harvest the top-set bulbils to plant in fall for fresh greens next spring or bulbs in two years. Poke around a few garlic bulbs in early August to check growth. Pull when 5-6 green leaves remain, before cloves begin to separate. Cure in a shaded airy place, 60°-70°, until dry. Do not field-cure. Trim, clean, store in a cool dry place and enjoy through the winter.
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