It’s Garlic Planting Time!

With the changing of seasons, it’s time to start your fall bulb planting! One of our favorites? Garlic! With all of its amazing health benefits and uses, it’s a must-have in every garden. Fall planting gives garlic the cold period it needs to develop strong roots, setting you up for a plentiful summer harvest. Plus, nothing beats the flavor of homegrown garlic in your favorite recipes! Check out a few fun facts and helpful tips about your garlic planting below:

Garlic is Planted in the Fall

Garlic is one of the few crops you plant in autumn, usually 4–6 weeks before the ground freezes.
It needs cold weather to develop strong roots before going dormant in winter.

One Bulb = Many Cloves = Many Plants

Each clove of garlic can grow into a full bulb.
Planting one bulb’s worth of cloves can give you 6–12 new bulbs at harvest!

Planting Depth & Spacing

Cloves should be planted about 2 inches deep and 4–6 inches apart.
Pointy side up — that’s where the sprout emerges.

Cold Weather is Essential

Garlic actually needs cold (“vernalization”) to split into cloves.
If you plant in spring, you’ll usually get just one big round clove instead of a full bulb.

Scapes are a Bonus Treat

In spring, hardneck garlic varieties produce curly flower stalks called scapes.
They’re edible and taste like garlicky asparagus — a gourmet delicacy!

Long Growing Season

Garlic takes 8–9 months to mature — like a “pregnancy” in the garden.
Harvest typically happens in mid-summer, when half the leaves have browned.

✨ Fun gardener’s tip: Garlic not only tastes great, it also repels pests like aphids and Japanese beetles when planted near other crops.

How to Plant Your Garlic:

1. Choose & Prepare Garlic

Select healthy, firm bulbs (find the perfect variety in our Garden Shop!)
Break apart the bulb into individual cloves just before planting.
Keep the papery skin on each clove — it protects them.

2. Prep the Soil

Garlic likes loose, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter.
Add compost (like Purple Cow or similar) to improve structure and nutrients.
Aim for a soil pH between 6.0–7.0.

3. Plant the Cloves

Plant in fall (4–6 weeks before the ground freezes).
Place each clove pointy end up, about 2 inches deep.
Space cloves 4–6 inches apart, in rows about 12 inches apart.

4. Water & Mulch

Water well right after planting.
Add a thick layer of mulch (straw, shredded leaves, or compost) to insulate over winter.

5. Overwinter Care

Garlic roots will grow in fall, but tops stay small.
In spring, green shoots will emerge through the mulch.

6. Growing Season

Water regularly in spring and early summer.
Keep the bed weed-free (garlic doesn’t like competition).
Snap off scapes (flower stalks) when they appear — this directs energy to the bulb.

7. Harvest

Garlic is ready in mid-summer when about half the leaves have turned brown.
Loosen the soil gently and pull bulbs out.
Cure (dry) bulbs in a shaded, airy spot for 2–3 weeks before storing.

✨ Pro Tip: Rotate garlic beds each year — don’t plant in the same spot more than once every 3–4 years to prevent soil disease.

Ready to get started? Find all your garlic planting supplies and bulbs in our Garden Shop today!