This year, I decided to change my garlic planting technique and incorporate—at least partially—the well-known Mittleider gardening method, which I first read about over 20 years ago. While I still avoid using any chemical fertilizers or pesticides, I truly appreciate the bed orientation, shape, and maintenance principles behind the method.

I planted my garlic in narrow rows with wide pathways between them, keeping both the beds and the walkways at the same ground level.

In previous years, I used to cover the beds with straw and hay. At first, it looked neat and seemed practical, but over time it caused several problems: weeds eventually took over, the soil compacted and hardened, and my poor garlic bulbs became crooked and stunted.

This year, I skipped the mulch entirely. I keep the soil loose and weed-free by light hoeing once a month, which also keeps the top layer nicely aerated. The pathways between the beds are simply scraped once a month to shave off young weeds before they establish.

The result? A garlic patch almost entirely free of weeds—a huge improvement compared to last year’s jungle. The plants are thriving in loose, well-aerated soil, and maintenance is much easier.

The only drawback came from an uneven planting site: after heavy rains, water pooled in the center, causing some bulbs to rot over the winter. A good reminder for next season—choose a level, well-drained location for planting.