Growing Garlic
First time growing garlic? No worries, we’ve got you covered from planting to harvest! In our area (Philadelphia), it is best to plant hardneck garlic varieties as these do best in our climate.
When to Plant Garlic
Garlic is best planted in the fall, from late September to November, especially in places that get a good frost. Aim to plant your garlic cloves about 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost, so they can grow strong roots before winter. Missed the window? No problem - just get them in the ground before winter! Garlic likes a period of cold (around 40°F / 4°C) to help it thrive. By early spring, the garlic will “wake up” and start growing before the summer heat kicks in.
How to Plant Garlic
Prep the Soil: Before planting, mix a tablespoons of fertilizer, bonemeal, or fish meal into the soil a few inches deep where you'll place the garlic. You can also just sprinkle a bit into each hole you dig to keep it easy!
Choose Your Varieties: There are many varieties of garlic to choose from - though most are sold online and must be ordered in advance. You can read about each variety and its flavor profile on the seller’s website. You want large bulbs without any signs of disease. Bigger cloves mean bigger bulbs next summer!
Keep the Cloves Whole Unitl Planting Time: Don’t break the cloves apart until just before planting, ideally the day of. They can start to go bad if you separate them too early. Break your bulb into individual cloves for planting - and you can plant them with their paper skins on.
Planting: Place the cloves upright—root side down and pointy side up—about 4 to 8 inches apart and 2 inches deep. Space rows 6 to 12 inches apart. A 10-foot row can give you around 5 pounds of garlic! I use an auger attached to a drill to make quick work of digging holes. Cover with soil and water.
Growing Garlic
If you live in a cold area, add a thick layer of mulch (like straw or leaves) to help the garlic survive winter. A layer of compost on top can give added nutrients to the soil and cloves.
As the temperatures warm up in spring, you'll see garlic shoots poking through the ground. They may have started to grow a bit in the fall - that is ok!
In early summer, you will see flower shoots (called garlic scapes) appear. Trim them off to help the plant put all its energy into the bulbs and not the flowers. You can use the scapes in recipes too—just search for garlic scape dishes!
Garlic needs plenty of nutrients, so in early spring, add some fertilizer like blood meal or compost.
Fertilize again (or use a granular slow release fertilizer that can last a while) when the bulbs start swelling in early May, and again if the leaves turn yellow.
Keep the area weed-free—garlic doesn’t like competition for nutrients!
Water every 3 to 5 days during the bulbing phase (mid-May to June). If it’s dry, water deeply every 8 to 10 days. Reduce watering as June approaches.
Harvesting Garlic
Harvest time can be from late June to August, depending on when you planted and the variety. Look for yellowing tops, but don’t wait until they’re completely dry.
To check if they’re ready, dig up one bulb as a test. It should have plump cloves with thick, dry skin. If you pick too early, the skin will be thin and weak.
To harvest, gently dig up the bulbs with a garden fork—don’t pull on the stems. Be careful not to puncture the garlic as this can lead to rot. Brush off excess dirt without removing the roots or leaves.
Let them dry for 1-2 days and then remove the outermost stalk/leaves and you will be left with a clean bulb.
Curing and Storing Garlic
In order to store your garlic for use all winter, you will need to “cure” it.
Let your garlic cure in a cool, shady, and dry place for a few weeks. You can hang them upside down in bunches or use a drying rack.
Once dry, trim the roots to about a quarter inch and cut the tops down to 1 or 2 inches.
Store your garlic in a cool (55°F / 13°C), dark, and dry spot for several months. Avoid humid areas like the basement and don’t refrigerate it, as it’s too cold and damp.
Dried garlic will taste even better! If you want to plant garlic again next fall, save some of the largest bulbs.
Garlic is an easy crop to grow - and won’t it be fun to make a dish using your home grown garlic next summer! Tight on space? I like to plant my cloves in my perennial garden beds. This is a practice known as foodscaping and can be used to plant any vegetable or herb. I hope you will try this crop in your garden!
A garlic scape - these should be removed - and used for recipes!