How to Grow Garlic

easyGardening8 months10 steps

Safety Warnings

Avoid planting where other onion family crops have been grown in the past 3 years to prevent disease.

Raised beds — 2 to 3 feet wide and 10 to 12 inches deep (ideal for clay soil)

Garlic Cloves — Large, disease-free cloves from reputable suppliers(1 lb (produces 7-10 lbs of garlic))

Compost or Aged Manure — Organic soil amendment(As needed)

Fertilizer — 5-10-10 complete, bonemeal, or high-potassium organic amendment(A couple of tablespoons per planting site)

Mulch — Old hay(6 inches deep)

Select a site with full sun (6 to 8 hours per day) and well-drained soil.

Tip: If soil is high in clay, use raised beds for better drainage.

Amend soil with compost, aged manure, or bonemeal for high fertility.

Tip: Aim for a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0.

Work fertilizer or fish meal into the soil several inches below where the clove base will rest.

Tip: Do this immediately before planting.

Separate cloves from the bulb one to two days before planting, keeping the papery husks on.

Tip: Avoid supermarket cloves as they may be treated to discourage sprouting.

Plant cloves pointed end up, 2 inches deep (4 inches in very cold areas), spaced 4 to 6 inches apart.

Tip: Plant in late fall, about 1-2 weeks after the first killing frost.

Apply 6 inches of old hay mulch after the ground freezes.

Tip: Mulching helps protect the bulbs during winter dormancy.

Provide approximately 1 inch of water per week during active growth.

Tip: Garlic prefers cool weather for foliage and warm weather for bulb enlargement.

Maintain excellent weed control throughout the growing season.

Tip: If the variety produces scapes (tender green shoots), harvest them in early summer.

Significantly reduce or stop watering 2 to 4 weeks before harvest.

Tip: Stop watering when leaves begin to yellow.

Harvest bulbs mid-summer, typically 240-270 days after planting.

Tip: Properly cure bulbs to extend storage life from 4 to 10 months depending on variety.

Garlic requires a dormancy period of at least 40°F (4°C) for 4 to 8 weeks for optimal bulb size.
Avoid planting garlic near grapes.
Garlic acts as a natural repellent for aphids, Japanese beetles, mites, and slugs.

Synthesized from 11 verified sources:

Old Farmer's AlmanacView →

Cornell ExtensionView →

Wind River Greens Plant DatabaseView →

Companion Planting DatasetView →