So if you’ve ever wondered, “How do I plant garlic?” you are in the right place! Garlic is one of the most successful and satisfying crops to plant in the garden. Given proper preparation and planting, you can have large, tasty bulbs which will store and add to your favorite recipes.

From novice to perfectionist, this how-to guide from Mad River Garlic Growers will take you through the entire growing process of the garlic.

So why grow your own Garlic?

There are a number of benefits to growing garlic besides fresh taste. You can use high quality varieties that may not be found in the supermarket and garlic grown at home tends to be more aromatic.

Benefits include:

• Fresh, full-flavored garlic
• Easy to grow with minimal maintenance
• Long storage life
• Natural pest resistance
• Great home gardener’s investment

One of the most critical aspects of harvesting garlic is beginning with good seed garlic.

Choose the Right Garlic Variety

Choose a garlic variety before planting.

Hardneck Garlic

Hardneck garlic is perfect for colder winter climates. It creates a flowering stalk known as scape and is one which is loaded with richness and complexity of taste. The most popular hardnecks include:

• Music Garlic
• Chesnok Red
• Spanish Roja
• Purple Stripe varieties
• Softneck Garlic

Softneck garlic suits warm climates and typically will store longer than hardnecks. It’s also a multi-layered clove and is frequently braided once harvested.

When is the time to Plant Garlic?

Garlic is typically fall sown, 4-6 weeks prior to the first frost. This will give the cloves a chance to root in before winter dormancy.

Common planting dates are:

• Northern climates: September to October
• On the whole: October to November, except in temperate regions, where the season extends from December to March.
• Temperate regions: Fall through winter

Garlic can be planted in the spring, though most often it is planted in the fall when it will produce larger bulbs.

How Do I Plant Garlic? Step-by-Step

Click on “Healthy Seed Garlic”

Only plant seed garlic, not garlic bulbs from the supermarket.

Good quality seed garlic is:

• Disease-free
• Large and firm
• Adapted for planting
• Higher yielding

Mad River Garlic Growers cultivates premium organic heirloom garlic, chosen for gardeners to make healthy and productive harvests.

Prepare the Soil

Garlic prefers to grow in:

• Loose, well-drained soil
• Rich organic matter
• Soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0
• Avoid full sun exposure (6-8 hours a day)

Before planting:

• Remove weeds
• Add compost to the soil.
• Do not plant in heavy clay or in wet places.
• Good soil leads to good bulbs.

Separate the Cloves

It is best to only separate the garlic into cloves just prior to planting.

Keep in mind:

• Do not remove the skin of the papaya.
• Plant only the biggest cloves.
• Do not use soft or broken cloves.

The bigger cloves will yield larger bulbs.

Plant Each Clove Correctly

Plant each clove:

• Top pointed end pointing up
• Root end is flat and down.
• About 2 inches deep
• 6 inches apart
• The rows are 10-12 inches wide.
• Good spacing will provide good air circulation and will assist in bulb formation.

Water After Planting

Water well after planting to aid the establishment of root system.

After that:

• Maintain the soil just moist.
• Avoid overwatering.
• Winter is often moist enough for natural rains.
• Mulching is beneficial to garlic.

Mulching is one of the easiest means of enhancing garlic production.

The following are good mulches:

• Straw
• Shredded leaves
• Clean hay

Benefits of mulching:

• Prevents the freezing of water.Protects against cold water freezing.
• Reduces weeds
• Retains soil moisture
• Improves soil quality with time

Mulch at planting time about 3-4″ deep.

Care of Garlic during the season

Once garlic sets in it needs little upkeep.

Watering

During spring growth:

If rainfall is inadequate, water once a week.
Discontinue irrigation about two weeks prior to harvest.
Fertilizing

Nitrogenous fertilizer is useful to garlic in the early growth stages.

Do not fertilize heavily later in the season as this can diminish quality of the bulbs.

Weed Control

Maintain weed-free planting area.

Garlic is a competitor for nutrients, sunlight, and water, with weeds.

Should You Remove Garlic Scapes?

Growing hardneck garlic, you will see the flower stalks curving into a circle called scapes.

Their removal will enable the plant to invest more energy in the bulb.

Bonus: Garlic scapes are tasty and can be utilized in:

• Pesto
• Stir-fries
• Soups
• Grilled dishes

How to tell when garlic is ready to harvest.

Garlic is ready to harvest in early to mid-summer.

Signs include:

• All lower leaves are browned.
• The upper leaves will continue to stay green.
• Bulbs fully developed

Do not let it go dormant and wait for all of the leaves to fall.

Loosen the soil with a garden fork before trying to lift bulbs.

Cure Garlic for Long-Term Storage

It is advisable to cure freshly harvested garlic before putting it away for storage.

Hang bulbs in:

• A dry location
• Good air circulation
• Shade
• Temperatures around 60–75°F

Usually takes 2-3 weeks to cure.

After curing:

• Trim roots.
• Trim stems; or, leave them as they are if preferred.
• Bulbs should be kept in a cool dry location.

Garlic will keep for several months if it’s cured properly.

Common Garlic Planting Mistakes

Steer clear of these mistakes:

• Planting grocery store garlic
• Planting upside down
• Overwatering
• Not enough space for cloves.
• Ignoring weeds
• Harvesting too early
• Harvesting too late

With a few simple changes you can make your crop spectacular.

Why Choose Mad River Garlic Growers?

We at Mad River Garlic Growers love to assist gardeners in their quest to grow incredible garlic! We sell high quality heirloom certified organic Seed Garlic that are chosen for their great flavour, growth and reliability. Our selection of carefully tested varieties will be ideal for your planting in a small garden in your backyard or in a larger planting area.

If you invest in good quality garlic seed, learn how to plant it properly and give it just a little seasonal attention, you’ll harvest healthy, delicious garlic bulbs to eat, store, and plant again, year after year.

Final Thoughts

Ah, if you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I plant garlic?”, it’s not as hard as you think. Use good seed garlic, prepare good soil, plant at the proper depth and spacing, mulch properly and give regular attention throughout the growing season. With these methods, you can enjoy big, bulbing garlic heads for fresh consumption or keep them for months and months!