As long as the ground isn’t frozen you can still plant bulbs. Garlic bulbs. These aromatic bulbs grow and fatten up through winter for harvest next summer.
Planting garlic in fall allows for the roots to develop without spending energy on top growth. The bulbs will sprout in spring and continue to grow through summer.
There are two types of garlic, hard neck and soft neck. Most of what we see in grocery stores is soft neck. Hard neck is what’s recommended for Hoosier gardeners because of its winter hardiness. Hard neck gets its name for a woody-like stalk. This garlic can be harvested and cured for long-term use.
Music and German garlic are popular choices. Plant a garlic clove pointy end up 2 inches deep and 3 to 4 inches apart in a sunny location with loose, well-drained soil. Water well and add a couple of inches of mulch. Something like leaves work great. Apply a granular fertilizer around the base of the plants in spring when sprouts break ground. Water well once the bulbs start growing.
You can harvest the green tops, called scapes, as they curl in spring. Cut them as soon as you can because the scapes get tougher the longer, they remain on the bulbs.
Raw scapes are a favorite for making pesto, but they also add tasty flavor to other dishes, like stir-fry, roasted meats and vegetables.
It’s best to buy fresh garlic bulbs from garden centers or online retailers. Urban Farmer is an Indiana online retailer with several types of garlic. (I don’t have any relationship with this company.)