Dirt Rich: Planting Minnesota Garlic
It’s that time of year again! Garlic growers in Minnesota are preparing for planting. We’re bringing this episode of Dirt Rich back into your feed to help you get ready to plant with advice from two seasoned garlic growers: Jerry Ford and Sunny Ruthchild.
Jerry and Sunny are longtime friends in Minnesota garlic and organic farming. Sunny runs Merryweather Gardens near Walnut Grove, raising garlic, poultry, vegetables, and pigs who are happy to be the clean-up crew for her orchard. Jerry raises replacement dairy heifers, grass-fed beef, and garlic with his family at Living Song Farm near Howard Lake.
Before they get back out there to plant next year’s garlic crop, they’re taking some time to compare notes and philosophies as they prepare for the next season and climate unknowns. They get into:
- Site Selection
- Soil Prep
- Timing of planting
- Seed garlic and varietal selection
- First-time growers & gardeners
- Dip treatments
- Their agriculture philosophies
- Mulching
- Being adaptable to change in markets and climate
Garlic is a high-value, premium crop here in Minnesota. As Sunny says, “the truth is, Minnesota can grow garlic. And the other truth is, people in Minnesota love good garlic, don’t let anybody tell you anything else.”
You can listen to Dirt Rich anywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and on the SFA website. Do you have ideas for future episodes? Comments? Drop us a line.