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.

Garlic needs a period of cool weather to form well-developed bulbs. If you live in a warm climate or plan to plant in spring, place the bulbs in the refrigerator for about 30 to 40 days before planting [1].

Keep the bulbs dry and place them in a paper bag or another container that allows some airflow.

Chilling can help the cloves form bulbs, but results depend on the variety and growing conditions.

Garlic takes several months to reach harvest, but it needs little daily care.

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 planting time depends on where you live. In cold climates, plant garlic in the fall, usually a few weeks before the ground freezes [2]. This gives the cloves time to grow roots before winter.

In mild or warm climates, you may plant garlic from late fall through early winter. Ask a local garden center or Extension office which planting time works best in your area.

You can also plant garlic in early spring. However, spring-planted garlic often produces smaller bulbs because it has less time to grow.

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 and the flat root end facing down. Cover the top of the clove with about 2 inches of soil.
Space cloves about 4 to 6 inches apart. More room usually helps them produce larger bulbs. Leave about 6 to 12 inches between rows.

Sunlight Requirements

Garlic grows best in full sun. Give it at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Eight hours is even better [3].

Garlic may also grow in light shade, but the bulbs will often be smaller.

How Deep to Plant Garlic

In most gardens, the top of each garlic clove should be covered with about 2 inches of soil. You may plant the cloves slightly deeper in very cold areas for added winter protection.

In cold climates, cover the bed with 3 to 6 inches of loose straw or another clean mulch. Mulch protects the cloves from sudden temperature changes and helps control weeds. A thick layer may not be needed in warm climates.

Mix finished compost into the soil before planting. Garlic also needs nitrogen while its leaves are growing. If a soil test shows that more is needed, apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer when growth begins in spring.

Stop adding high-nitrogen fertilizer once the bulbs start to form. Too much nitrogen late in the season can delay bulb growth.

Growing in Pots

Fill the container with fresh, well-draining potting mix. Do not use heavy garden soil because it may become packed and hold too much water.

Choose a container at least 10 inches deep with drainage holes.
Choose the width based on how many cloves you want to plant.
Space the cloves about 4 to 6 inches apart so the bulbs have room to grow.
Plant each clove with the pointed end facing up. Cover the top with about 2 inches of potting mix.
Place the container in full sun.
Keep the potting mix lightly moist but never soggy. Water when the top inch feels dry.
Reduce watering as the leaves begin to brown and harvest time approaches.

Containers filled with fresh potting mix may be helpful if your garden soil has onion maggots or serious soilborne diseases. However, do not put infested garden soil in the containers.

Growing Indoors

You can grow garlic indoors for its tasty green shoots. Growing full-sized bulbs indoors is harder. The plants need strong light, enough space, and a period of cool temperatures.

If you want full bulbs, place the container under a strong grow light for about 12 to 14 hours each day. A sunny window alone may not provide enough light. If you only want garlic greens, a bright window may be enough.

Use a diluted liquid fertilizer only as directed on the product label. Do not overfeed the plants.

Soil Type

Garlic grows best in loose, fertile, well-drained soil. Loam or sandy loam is ideal because it allows the bulbs to expand without sitting in water.

If your soil is heavy clay, mix in finished compost before planting. You can also grow garlic in raised beds or mounds to improve drainage.

Although garlic can grow in several soil types, wet or packed soil may cause small, poorly formed bulbs.

Garlic grows best in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 [2].

Plant Pests

Garlic is not usually bothered by many pests, but it is not pest-proof. Onion maggots, thrips, wireworms, bulb mites, and certain nematodes may damage it. Aphids and caterpillars may also feed on the leaves at times.

Garlic’s strong smell is sometimes said to discourage pests. However, planting garlic near another crop does not guarantee protection.

Plant Diseases

Leek Rust

Garlic can also develop leek rust. This fungal disease causes orange or brown spots on the leaves. Mild rust does not always ruin the bulbs, but a serious infection can reduce bulb size.

Remove badly affected leaves if only a few are infected, but do not strip the plant of healthy leaves. Water near the soil instead of wetting the leaves. Give plants enough space for good airflow, remove infected plant remains after harvest, and rotate onion-family crops.

Do not harvest immature bulbs only because rust appears. Harvest them when they reach the proper stage. Bulbs that are firm and free from rot are normally still usable.

White Rot

White rot is a more serious disease. It causes yellow leaves, rotting roots, and white fungal growth around the bulb.

Remove and discard infected plants, but do not compost them. Avoid growing garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, or other onion-family crops in that area for at least four or five years.

Because white rot may survive much longer, ask your local Extension office for advice before planting these crops there again.

How Long Does It Take to Grow?

Fall-planted garlic usually takes about seven to nine months to mature. Depending on the climate and planting time, the bulbs may be ready from late spring through summer.

Spring-planted garlic has a shorter growing season and may produce smaller bulbs.

Cutting Garlic Scapes

Hardneck garlic produces curly flower stalks called scapes. They usually appear in late spring or early summer.

Harvest the scapes when they form their first curl and are still tender. Cut them with clean scissors or shears, but do not cut or remove the leaves. The plant needs its leaves to feed the growing bulb [4].

Garlic scapes have a mild garlic flavor. Add them to stir-fries, soups, sauces, pesto, and other dishes.

Garlic Companion Plants

Garlic can grow near many common vegetables as long as each plant has enough sunlight, water, nutrients, and space. However, there is little strong evidence that planting garlic beside a certain vegetable will make that vegetable grow better.

Garlic’s smell may discourage some animals for a short time, but it is not a dependable way to keep rabbits or deer out of the garden. Fencing and other barriers work better.

Avoid planting garlic where garlic, onions, leeks, or shallots have grown during the past three or four years. This type of crop rotation helps reduce pests and diseases.

Harvesting

Garlic is usually ready to harvest when several lower leaves have turned brown, but about half of the leaves are still green.

Dig up one test bulb before harvesting the entire crop. The bulb should have well-developed cloves covered with tight, papery skin.

Use a garden fork or spade to loosen the soil a short distance from the bulb. Lift it carefully to avoid bruising or cutting it.

Gently brush away loose soil, but do not wash the bulbs. Cure garlic in a shaded, dry, well-ventilated place [5]. You may hang the plants in small bundles or lay them in a single layer on a rack.

Curing usually takes two to four weeks. The garlic is ready for storage when the outer skins feel dry and papery and the neck is fully dry.

Storing

Store cured garlic in a dry, dark, well-ventilated place. Normal room temperature is suitable for short-term storage as long as the area is not hot or humid.

Keep the bulbs in a mesh bag, basket, or another container that allows air to move around them. Do not seal garlic in a plastic bag because trapped moisture can cause mold and rot.

Softneck garlic usually keeps longer than hardneck garlic. If you grow both types, use the hardneck bulbs first.

Check stored garlic often. Remove any bulbs that become soft, moldy, or badly damaged.

Types of Garlic

There are two main types.

1. Softneck

Softneck garlic grows best in mild and warm climates. It usually stores well and has flexible stems that can be braided. Most garlic sold in grocery stores is softneck.

Many softneck varieties are available for different growing conditions.

Inchelium Red
Lorz Italian
California Early
California Late
Applegate

2. Hardneck

Hardneck garlic is well suited to colder climates. It forms a stiff central stalk and produces edible scapes.

It often has fewer but larger cloves than softneck garlic. Hardneck bulbs usually do not store as long.

If you plant both, eat the hardneck varieties first.

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

Many online shops sell seed garlic or sampler packs.

Takeaway

Growing garlic is very rewarding. It produces well, and you might even 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