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How to Grow Garlic
(Quick Guide)

  • Plant garlic in the fall, typically around mid-October or , about 6 weeks before the ground freezes in

  • If needed, enrich your soil with compost or a balanced all-purpose fertilizer before planting

  • Break apart each bulb into individual cloves, leaving the papery skins intact.

  • Plant cloves in prepared soil approximately 3 inches deep and space them 6–9 inches apart, placing the pointed tip up and the root end down.

  • Ensure the clove tip sits about 1 inch below the soil surface after covering.

  • Apply 3–6 inches of mulch over the bed to protect the garlic through winter and help control weeds until spring.

  • Following spring, stay on top of weeds — garlic does not compete well, so consistent weeding is essential.

  • In early summer (around June), continue weeding and remove scapes from hardneck varieties to direct energy into bulb growth. Scapes are edible and delicious!

  • Harvest when about 5 green leaves remain at the top or when roughly half of the leaves have died back from the bottom.

  • Cure harvested garlic in a shaded area with good airflow for about 3 weeks, keeping bulbs out of direct sunlight.

  • Store properly in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space to maximize storage life.

How to Grow Garlic
Full Guide

When to Plant Garlic

Garlic is best planted in the fall, about six weeks before the ground freezes. In northern climates, this typically means mid-October, while growers in southern regions can plant later in the fall. Planting at the right time allows cloves to establish strong roots before winter dormancy, setting the stage for vigorous spring growth.

How to Plant Garlic

Plant each clove approximately 3 inches deep and space them 6–9 inches apart in rows. Position the clove with the pointed tip facing upward and the root end down. Cover with soil so that the tip sits about 1 inch below the surface.

After planting, apply 3–6 inches of mulch. Mulch helps regulate soil temperature, conserve moisture, and significantly reduce weed pressure. Once mulched, allow the garlic to overwinter until spring

Spring Care and Fertilization

Garlic will begin emerging in early spring. As soon as shoots appear, apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to encourage strong leaf growth. Stop fertilizing just before scapes begin to form on hardneck varieties.

Weed control is critical. Garlic does not compete well with weeds, and bulb size will suffer if plants must fight for nutrients and sunlight. Removing weeds while they are small saves time and protects yield. Mulching greatly reduces the need for intensive weeding.

Watering Guidelines

Garlic generally requires about 1 inch of water per week during active growth. Continue watering as plants begin to mature, but reduce irrigation as harvest approaches. Ideally, allow the soil to begin drying out 5–7 days before harvest. This helps prevent rot and improves curing and storage quality.

Removing Scapes - Hardneck varieties

In early to mid-summer, hardneck garlic will produce flower stalks called scapes. Remove scapes once they begin to curl. This directs the plant’s energy back into bulb development, resulting in larger heads. Scapes are edible and prized for their mild garlic flavor.

When to Harvest Garlic

Garlic is typically ready for harvest 3–4 weeks after scapes are removed (for hardnecks). For softnecks, monitor leaf dieback.

Signs that garlic is ready to harvest include:

  • 4–5 mostly green leaves remaining at the top

  • Approximately 50% of the leaves have yellowed and died back from the bottom

  • Bulbs show full shoulder development when test harvested

  • Cloves are fully formed and pulling away from the stem when cut

Each green leaf corresponds to a wrapper around the bulb. Harvesting when 4–5 green leaves remain ensures sufficient wrappers for long-term storage.

If unsure, harvest a test bulb every few days as maturity approaches. The goal is to harvest at peak size before wrappers deteriorate.

How to Cure Garlic

Curing is essential for long-term storage and begins immediately after harvest.

Handle freshly dug garlic gently—bruising can reduce storage life. Cure bulbs in a shaded area out of direct sunlight with good air circulation. Hanging bundles or placing bulbs on racks with fans works well.

Curing typically takes about three weeks. The process is complete when the stems are fully dry and there is little to no green remaining inside the neck. Once cured, trim roots and stems (if not braided) and remove excess outer dirt, taking care not to remove too many protective wrappers.

Storing Garlic

Store fully cured garlic in a cool, dry place with good airflow.

Avoid refrigeration for long-term storage, as it can trigger sprouting.

Properly cured and stored garlic can last for many months, depending on the variety.

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