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.

If you live in a warm climate or are planting in spring, chill the cloves in the refrigerator for about 30 to 40 days before planting [1]. This helps produce larger bulbs.

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

When planting, buy seed garlic from a garden center, nursery, or trusted local grower. Choose a variety that grows well in your area.

Here’s how to grow garlic at home:

Table of Contents

When to Plant Garlic

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, you get a larger, more flavorful harvest.

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

Planting Garlic Cloves

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

Separate the cloves from the bulb, but leave the papery skins on.
Plant each clove with the pointed tip facing up about 3 inches deep into the soil.
Space them 2 to 4 inches apart to be sure they aren’t crowded.

Sunlight Requirements

Garlic needs a lot of sunlight. It grows best in full sun on relatively loamy soil. However, it can tolerate partial shade as long as it still gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each 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 (7-8 cm) deep and 2-4 inches apart.

Additionally, add mulch after planting. Feed the plants with a balanced fertilizer after they begin growing and again in spring if needed.

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 enough room for its roots and bulbs to grow.
The container’s width 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.
Water only when needed. Too much water can cause the bulbs to rot.
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 at least 8 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 whenever the top inch of soil feels dry.

Soil Type

The soil should be loose and well-drained. Sandy loam is generally the best soil type.

Plant garlic in the fall for the best results. However, you can also plant it in spring if you use pre-chilled cloves.

If your soil is heavy clay, mix in compost to improve it or use raised beds or mounds.

Garlic can grow in many types of soil as long as it gets 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.

Aphids and thrips can often be washed off with water or treated with insecticidal soap if needed. Crop rotation and healthy soil are good ways to prevent wireworms and onion maggots.

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.

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.

Garlic usually takes about 7 to 9 months to grow when planted in the fall.

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 may help discourage rabbits and deer in some gardens because of its strong smell. If you have had an issue with these animals eating your garden, plant garlic to help keep them away.

Some gardeners also plant garlic near rue, chamomile, yarrow, and summer savory.

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

Read more on what to plant alongside garlic.

Harvesting

Harvest when the lower leaves have turned yellow or brown, but several upper leaves are still green. However, it should be harvested with great care, as the bulbs bruise 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 extends its shelf life in storage [2].

Cutting Garlic Scapes

Harvest scapes after they curl once or when they are about 6-10 inches long.

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 at room temperature.

You can braid softneck varieties into traditional garlic strings. Hardneck varieties don’t store as well, so they should be eaten first.

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 is a wide variety of plants to choose from for various growing conditions.

Inchelium Red
Lorz Italian
California Early
California Late
Applegate
Galiano

2. Hardneck

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

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.

Chesnok Red
German White
Music
Georgian Crystal
Siberian
Spanish Roja
Persian Star

You can find more varieties of softneck garlic than hardneck, but you should choose one that works well in your area. Many online shops sell seed garlic or sampler packs.

Takeaway

Growing garlic is very rewarding. It produces well, and you might even be able to grow enough garlic for your family.

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

When to Plant Garlic