How to Plant Garlic Cloves: Basic Guide

Garlic is an easy vegetable to grow and a great addition to any garden. It grows well in a wide range of climates and soils.

However, chill the cloves in the fridge for 30 to 40 days before planting. Pre-plant chilling helps in getting better clove and bulb yields [1].

Garlic does take a while to reach harvest, but the wait is worth it.

When planting, it’s best to get your stock from a farmer’s market or gardening center. Also, ensure you purchase varieties that are suitable for your area.

Here’s how to grow garlic at home:

Planting Garlic Cloves

Planting garlic from cloves is the easiest way to cultivate it.

Carefully separate the cloves from the bulb about a day before planting, and use the largest ones.
Please leave them in their skins.
Next, stick them with the tip up about 3 inches deep into the soil.
Space them 2 to 4 inches apart to be sure they aren’t crowded.

When to Plant

The best time to plant garlic is in the fall, 4 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes.

Start putting it in late September to early October for a summer harvest. Moreover, when you plant it in the fall, it produces a larger and more flavorful harvest.

However, you can still plant in the spring, but the harvest will be ready close to the end of summer. Also, the cloves won’t be as large.

Sunlight Requirements

Garlic needs a lot of sunlight. It grows best in full sun on relatively loamy soil. However, it can tolerate partial shade so long as it isn’t for the entire day.

Essentially, it requires approximately 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day.

How Deep to Plant Garlic

As mentioned, plant the cloves approximately 3 inches deep and 2 to 4 inches apart. You can also place them in mounds that are 15 cm apart and 7 cm deep. This will help prevent rot.

Additionally, be sure to mulch and fertilize both at the beginning and in the spring when the shoots come up again.

How Long Does It Take to Grow?

Garlic planted in autumn will be ready to harvest by summer.

However, if you want scapes, you can start harvesting them around spring, but be careful not to damage the bulbs.

Trim with scissors, leave some stems, and be careful when getting them.

They are ready when the lower leaves turn yellow. Also, be cautious when digging them up because bruised garlic won’t keep very long.

Generally, it takes around 9 months to harvest your garlic from the time of planting.

Growing in Pots

You’ll need good, fertile soil to start with when growing vegetables in pots. A soilless growing medium can also be beneficial.

Select pots that are at least 8 inches deep, allowing the garlic plant sufficient room to develop roots and bulbs.
The width of the container should depend on how many cloves you want to put in it. Also, don’t crowd them so the bulbs have enough room to develop.
Keep the pots in full sunlight.
Do not water too much.
Ensure your pots drain well. Wet soil can cause the bulbs to rot or prevent them from forming correctly.
Place cloves 2 to 4 inches apart at a depth of 3 inches in loose, fertile soil.

Containers are the best way to grow if your soil is currently infested with onion worms or other pests that target garlic and related crops.

Growing Indoors

Select a large pot or container that is at least eight inches deep. The width depends on how many bulbs you want to grow. Just be sure to have enough space for the bulbs to grow.
Fill the pot with loose, fertile soil, and ensure it has a drainage hole.
Plant cloves 3 inches deep and 2 to 4 inches apart. Cover them with soil and place them in front of a sunny window.
Be sure to fertilize with a liquid fertilizer, such as seaweed or fish emulsion, once a month.
Water is added as the soil dries out.

Soil Type

The soil should be loose and well-drained. Sandy loam tends to be the best soil type.

The spot should get plenty of sunlight and stay warm. Cultivate in the fall for the best results, but it can be done in the spring if you buy pre-chilled bulbs.

Heavy clay-based soil either needs amendment, or you can make mounds to plant your garlic in. However, it can withstand many soils, as long as it receives enough sunlight and nutrients.

Plant Pests and Diseases

Garlic is mostly resistant to pests. It tends to repel many other pests, making it a great companion plant to scatter around your garden.

The main issues are aphids, thrips, onion maggots, wireworms, and armyworms. Mice may also nest in the mulch or nibble on these plants.

You can typically handle most garden pests manually or use organic pest control methods, such as neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays.

Additionally, the plants can develop leek rust, a fungal infection. Affected bulbs can be eaten, but they should be harvested immediately to control the spread.

Also, be sure to rotate your garden crops.

Garlic Companion Plants

Many crops, such as tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers, thrive near garlic. Other plants, like spinach, beets, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage, also benefit.

Moreover, garlic repels many common garden pests, as well as animals such as rabbits and deer. If you have had an issue with these animals eating your garden, plant garlic to help keep them away.

Plants that benefit garlic include rue, which drives away maggots; chamomile; yarrow; and summer savory.

However, please don’t put it near peas, beans, sage, parsley, or asparagus, as it can stunt their growth.

Harvesting

The crop is ready to harvest when the lower leaves are all yellow and the bulb has clearly defined cloves. However, it should be harvested with great care, as it bruises easily.

Also, if you leave them in the ground for too long, the bulbs can split open.

Dig a bit away from the bulb and very carefully dig it up. Next, hang it in bunches of 5 to 10 in a cool, dry place for about 4 to 6 weeks.

The area should also be dark and well-ventilated. You can eat garlic immediately after harvesting; however, curing allows it to last longer in storage [2].

Cutting Garlic Scapes

Once the scapes reach about 6 inches, you can harvest them.

Trim with scissors or shears, leaving some stem behind. However, wear gloves, or your hands will smell strongly of garlic for days.

These tender green stalks are delicious in stir-fries and a variety of other dishes.

Storing

Store garlic in a cool, dry place.

You can braid soft-neck varieties to make the traditional garlic string. Store this in a closet or pantry, away from direct sunlight.

Hardneck varieties don’t store as well and need to be eaten first. However, don’t refrigerate your bulbs, or they will begin the sprouting process.

Save larger bulbs for the next planting season. Just keep them dry until you’re ready to plant.

Types of Garlic

There are two main types.

1. Softneck

Softneck varieties are what you find in grocery stores. Besides, they are common and easy to grow.

There are many varieties to choose from for various growing conditions.

Inchelium red
Polish red
Lorz Italian
Galiano
Applegate
Italian Late
California early
California late

2. Hardneck

Hardneck varieties are a bit more challenging to grow, but they yield flower stalks called scapes, which are edible and delicious.

If you live in the right climate, try growing them. Additionally, be aware that softneck varieties tend to store longer than hardneck varieties.

If you plant both, eat the hardneck varieties first.

Spanish Roja
German White
Porcelain
Georgian Crystal
Polish Hardneck
Siberian
Persian Star
Chesnok Red
Purple Stripe

You can find more varieties of softneck garlic than hardneck, but you should find one that will work well in your area. Many online shops offer a variety of seeds or sampler packs to try.

Takeaway

Growing garlic is very rewarding. It produces well, and you might even be able to be self-sufficient if your harvest goes well.

Since it doesn’t take much space and can be grown in containers, you can get a good harvest with very little space. Just ensure that you plant garlic under the right conditions.

How to Plant Garlic Cloves: Basic Guide