Planting garlic is easy, but you have to make sure to get the timing right, and doing it at the wrong time is the #1 mistake that beginners make. So, in this post I will show you exactly when and how to plant it for the biggest and best crop.
If you want to learn how to grow garlic in your garden successfully, then it’s important to start it at the right time.
Many new gardeners make the mistake of planting it too early or too late, and end up with tiny bulbs – or worse, nothing at all.
I am no exception! The first time I planted garlic in my garden was an epic failure, and I was extremely disappointed. I struggled for a few years before I finally figured out the proper timing.
The funny thing is that it’s actually super easy to get a huge crop once you know when and how to plant it, and I’ll show you exactly what to do in this detailed step by step guide.
When To Plant Garlic
The best time to plant garlic is 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes in cold climates, or as soon as the soil is workable in the winter or early spring warmer areas.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that, even in warmer regions, you may not get large heads if you plant it too late. Here’s how to figure out exactly when to plant it in your garden:
- Planting in the fall – If you live in a cold climate like I do here in Minnesota, then wait to plant the cloves until after the first few frosts in the fall – which is usually sometime in September or October.
- Planting in the spring – In warmer climates with a long growing season, you can plant your cloves as soon as the soil is workable in the winter or very early spring.
Where To Plant Garlic
The best place to plant garlic is in a full sun location where the soil is rich and has good drainage. The bulbs will rot if it’s too wet, so be sure to choose a spot where the water drains away quickly.
The soil should also be loose, fertile, and free from impediments. So take the time to clear the bed of weeds, sticks, rocks, and thick roots. Then amend it with worm castings, compost, or an organic all-purpose fertilizer.
Related Post: How To Make Pickled Garlic (With Recipe)
How To Plant Garlic Step-By-Step
If you’ve ever planted any other type of bulb in your garden before, you’ll see that garlic is not much different. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
Supplies Needed
- All-purpose fertilizer granules, compost, and/or organic worm castings
- Shovel or cultivating tool
- Lightweight mulch (if you live in a cold climate)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the garden bed – Remove any weeds or grass from the bed, as well as rocks, sticks, thick roots, and other large impediments.
Step 2: Amend the soil – Use a shovel or cultivator to loosen up the ground. Then mix in all-purpose fertilizer granules, compost, and/or organic worm castings to amend the bed.
Step 3: Prepare the bulb for planting – Carefully divide your garlic bulb into individual cloves, leaving the papery skin on them. If the skin comes off on its own, don’t worry, you can still plant the clove. But ideally you should leave it on.
Step 4: Plant the cloves – Lay the cloves on top of the soil where you want them, spacing them 6-8″ apart. Then plant each one 2-3″ deep, with the pointy tip facing up. Cover them with soil, and gently press it down over the top.
Step 5: Add mulch (optional): If you’re planting in the fall, and you live in a region that has harsh winters, you should mulch the bed. Cover the soil with a 4-6″ layer of straw, leaves, or some other type of vegetable garden mulch to protect the cloves from the extreme cold.
FAQs
First break apart the bulb into individual cloves. Then space them 6-8″ apart, and plant each one with the pointy tip facing up.
You should plant each garlic clove 2-3″ deep.
You should leave it on, but don’t worry if the papery outer layer accidentally comes off as you separate the cloves. You can still plant them without the skin.
You should lightly water your garlic after planting it to settle the soil over the cloves. They don’t like to be overly wet, so don’t water to the point where it’s pooling in the bed.
Planting garlic is easy, but it’s important to get the timing right. Don’t worry, once you get the hang of it, you’ll have the best and biggest crop in the neighborhood.
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Learn more about my Vertical Vegetables book here.
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Share your tips for planting garlic in the comments section below.
Cheryl L. March says
I would really like to see a photo of what the garlic looks like as an adult plant. I’ve never seen it. Also how can I write private as I have an unrelated question about something I found in my yard that I want identified that actually looks like the marjoram photo on this website.
Amy Andrychowicz says
My article about how to grow garlic has photos of the mature plants in the garden. You can post a photo to my Facebook page if you’d like, and I’ll take a look.
Michelle says
Hello, What would happen it I plant garlic now and wait to harvest until next year? Or is it best to just wait and plant in the fall of this year? Would anything bad happen or what would be the effects of planting now vs waiting? I live in Massachusetts. Thank you!
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you plant hardneck garlic now, it will grow, but it probably won’t have time to produce large harvestable heads before winter. Also, once it starts growing like that, it likely won’t survive through the winter (they’re more likely to survive when they are at least semi-dormant). So yes, it is best to wait until the fall to plant them.
Sharon says
I planted in the fall, they grew instantly. I’m in Arkansas. We had a harsh winter which is unusual. The green above ground never stopped despite the zero degree temp and snow. They still look great. I can’t wait to harvest later on! My very first time growing garlic. Now to figure out the perfect time to harvest.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wonderful, so happy to hear that your garlic is doing so well after planting it in the fall! You’ll know they’re ready to harvest once the stems and leaves die back, usually sometime in July/Aug.
Allison says
Alberta Canada Zone 3. I planted my garlic (hard neck) last fall and they did not grow. Some suffered from frost heave although they were planted 3+ inches deep. The rest were just pulpy lumps in March of this year. They were planted in raised beds and covered with lots of mulch.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sorry to hear your garlic didn’t make it though the winter. It sounds to me like the bulbs rotted. The main cause is poorly draining soil which stays too wet for them. A common problem in years when there’s a lot of snow and/or rain, and a cold, wet spring or fall. Next time, I would recommend amending the bed with compost, and maybe mix in some sand or perlite to ensure that it is fast draining. Garlic will not tolerate wet soil for long, especially when it’s cold.
Allison says
Actually the bed was amended with compost and sand. And we had less snow but more cold than usual. I also had the bed covered with a good layer of mulch and a tarp to keep out excess moisture. It is a raised bed – 20in deep built in the hugelkultur style Also a very dry spring is shaping up here so snow and rain was not a problem. I planted some in a large planter in January or February and that is growing well. It can be brought in if it needs more growing time towards the end of our season. I wonder if I started them in pots so that roots started growing and then planted them out if that would help or would I just be killing them again. This was my first time planting garlic.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I think that the tarp may be the problem. It gets really hot under a tarp in the sun, which probably ended up cooking your garlic bulbs. Next time, skip the tarp and just cover them with a layer of mulch for winter protection. I don’t recommend starting it in a pot then moving it the garden, garlic hates to be transplanted. It can stunt their growth and prevent them from developing a substantial head in time.
Rebecca says
Dear Amy, I just planted garlic in my garden, for the firs time ever, it looks that it’s growing very well, my question is, how long does it take to fully grow and to harvest it?
(Houston Tx. area)
Amy Andrychowicz says
It depends on the type of garlic you planted. Hardneck varieties planted in the fall in cold climates is usually ready to harvest sometime in July (or mid-summer). Softneck varieties planted in the spring in a warm climate with long summers are usually ready in late summer/early fall. But it also depends on the cultivar, because some are faster to mature than others. You’ll know they are ready to harvest once the leaves have turned yellow. Read this post for more details… How To Grow Garlic In Your Garden
Debbie says
I purchased your heirloom garlic.
I live in Buffalo, NY and start my vegetables indoors under LED grow lights.
Do you recommend starting my garlic indoors ?i
Since, I have the option or should I wait and plant them directly in my outdoor garden.
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you purchased a softneck variety, then you can plant it directly into your garden now in the spring. Hardneck varieties are better to plant in the fall. It’s not beneficial to start garlic indoors, because they hate to be transplanted. Transplanting garlic will stunt their growth, and they may not produce a very large head because of it. Here’s more information about how to grow garlic.
Barbara In Montreal Canada says
Can I plant garlic in my house ? I have a southern exposeseur and get sun all day long …
Amy Andrychowicz says
Humm… I have never tried growing garlic indoors myself, but you could certainly give it a try. I would definitely recommend using a softneck variety, and you’ll need to give it tons of light. Good luck, and please let me know how well it works for you! 🙂
Susan says
I live in Summerville, SC, a part of the “Lowcountry” close to Charleston and am a beginner gardener who has always wanted to grow my own garlic. I have the perfect full sun plot I’ve been cultvating for this purpose but am now uncertain as to when to plant and where to purchase the actual garlic bulbs for planting. Experts seem to disagree as to whether or you buy from the grocery store or order special bulbs from growers. What are your recommendations?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I definitely recommend buying garlic bulbs from growers. They are specifically grown to use as “seed garlic”, and you will have the best success with them. Though you could grow garlic from the grocery store, it is unreliable. First, you don’t know what type you’re getting, so it may not be suitable for growing in your climate. Also, sometimes the bulbs are treated so they won’t sprout. Read my detailed post about growing garlic for more information… How To Grow Garlic In Your Garden.
As for where to get the bulbs, check with your local garden center. You can also find them for sale online, here is a good source… Botanical Interests Garlic
cecile says
I tried last Fall and planted a lot in my garden. I harvested 5 heads yesterday. They are small. It’s very disappointing, but maybe I’ll try again. I’m in Minneapolis too and followed your previous posts about garlic. I bet the squirrels stole a lot.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh bummer, sorry to hear that your garlic didn’t do as well as you expected. It could be the variety that you purchased, or a few other things: They like a lot of sun, nitrogen-rich and fast-draining soil, fertilizer, and pruning. Here’s a post with detailed instructions for how to grow garlic that should help you out next time. Good luck!
Laura @ RYG says
I love growing my own garlic, maybe it’s just in my head, but I honestly think it tastes so much better than grocery store garlic. It’s unbelievably easy to grow and since I cook a ton, I use a ton of garlic. I just love experimenting with various types of garlic….so I guess that’s my tip. We have a local farm here that showcases many varieties and its fun planting all the types and tasting it of course!
Amy Andrychowicz says
No, it’s not in your head. It TOTALLY tastes better, just like everything else that’s homegrown! 🙂 That’s a great tip! I didn’t even know there were different kinds of garlic when I first started out. Garlic is garlic, right. Haha!
Mike the Gardener says
I agree with Amy. It definitely tastes better than what is in the stores.