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…is November 22 thru November 24.  Enter a winter wonderland filled with our homegrown poinsettias, holiday plants and gift ideas.  Let us inspire you with our extensive collection of gift ideas and ornaments for all your decorating needs.

We have all of your favorites–tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, alliums–and a few not-so-well known treasures for your garden.  November is a perfect time to plant your spring bulbs (planting too can early promote premature leaf growth) and nothing could be more uplifting after a long winter than crocus, snowdrops and winter aconite blossoms peeking through the snow come spring.  Allow the Klein’s staff to share planting tips and ideas to keep those pesky squirrels from digging up those newly planted bulbs.  And for indoor blooms, don’t forget a few hyacinths, paperwhites and amaryllis (arriving mid-October) for indoor forcing.  We carry a lovely assortment of forcing glasses, vases and decorative pottery.  Forced bulbs make for a n inexpensive and treasured holiday gift.  Any bulb questions?  Don’t forget our Mad Gardener @ [email protected]!

***Please note that amaryllis, paperwhites and forcing hyacinth bulbs and holiday bulb gift boxes are not included in this sale.

…for forcing and holiday gift giving. Choose from our large selection of bulbs direct from Holland, South Africa and Israel.  For holiday blooms, mid- to late October is the perfect time to pot up our Christmas amaryllis.  Paperwhites (choose from a half dozen varieties!) are started in early to mid-November for holiday blooms.  Gift boxes, hyacinth starting glasses and bulbs and all supplies for indoor bulb forcing are now in stock. Ask our staff or email our [email protected] for instructions and bulb forcing tips.

Choose from our fantastic selection of Seedsavers garlic: Broadleaf Czech, Chesnok Red, Early Purple Italian, Elephant, German Extra Hardy, German Red, Inchelium Red & Music.

How To Grow Garlic
This culinary staple is rarely propagated from seeds. Instead a few aromatic bulbs of garlic are saved from the harvest and replanted year after year.

Time Of Planting
Plant garlic in the fall, usually between September 15 and November 30, after the first light frost of the year.

Spacing Requirements
Keep bulbs intact until right before planting. Break bulbs into individual cloves and plant the largest, healthiest looking cloves with the basal plate – the point where the cloves attached to the bulb – down and the pointed shoot-end up, 6-8 inches apart. Cover with 2 inches of soil and a 6-inch layer of mulch.

Time To Germination
Cloves may begin to sprout through the mulch in 4-8 weeks, depending on the variety and the weather conditions in your region. Do not be concerned. The plants may suffer some frost or a light freeze and still survive the weather.

Special Considerations
Garlic plants must be vernalized (overwintered) in order for their bulbs to develop. Do not remove mulch in the spring; it helps control weeds, preserve moisture and provides nutrients as it decomposes.

When garlic shoots begin to emerge in early spring, ensure even soil moisture by supplying 1 inch of water per week throughout the growing season. Garlic does not compete well with weeds so keep weeds under control early to ensure a bountiful harvest. Scapes are the curly flower stems that often form as the garlic matures. Cut or break them off after they are 10 inches long and reserve them for eating.

Common Pests And Diseases
Garlic can suffer damage from nematodes, botrytis rot, and white rot. However, the biggest threat to garlic is weeds. Keep your garlic bed clean and make sure to plant garlic in well-fertilized, loose soil.

When And How To Harvest
Harvest after 3 or 4 leaves have died back and there are still 5 or 6 green leaves remaining on the plant – sometime in June or July depending on the year and your climate. Do not wait too long or the bulbs will begin to separate in the ground. Loosen the soil with a shovel or pitchfork and then dig the garlic carefully. Do not pull the stalk or it will separate from the bulb. Gently brush most of the dirt off. Tie plants in a bundle of 6-8 plants and hang in a shaded, dry, well-ventilated shed or garage. Leave plants hanging for 4-6 weeks so that bulbs can cure.

Storing
After thoroughly drying, trim off the roots and cut the stalks off about 1 ½ inches from the bulb. Store in net bags. For optimum storage, hang in an area with 45-55 percent humidity and a temperature of 50-70 degrees F. Hold back your nicest bulbs for replanting.