Growing Garlic

Allium sativum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                P P    

(Best months for growing Garlic in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Plant cloves

September: Garlic can overwinter. Cover with a good layer of mulch . In areas where frost persists into March/ April, expect to harvest your garlic in June/July.

October: Garlic can overwinter. Cover with a good layer of mulch . In areas where frost persists into March/ April, expect to harvest your garlic in June/July.

  • Easy to grow. Plant cloves. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 4 - 5 inches apart
  • Harvest in 17-25 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Beets, Carrots, Cucumbers, Dill, Tomatoes, Parsnips
  • Avoid growing close to: Asparagus, Beans, Brassicas, Peas, Potatoes

Your comments and tips

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19 Feb 21, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the planting notes at the top of the page. Harvest times . Also it does not recommend planting garlic in your climate zone.
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07 Nov 20, Cici (USA - Zone 6a climate)
Other advise different from this is you can't just dry garlic for a day. Should be 2-3 weeks in shade with plenty of air circulation. Only way it will keep for 6-12 months depending on variety. I hang mine in an open shed/barn. Then trim off leaves and roots and store in cool dry place for long term storage.
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09 Nov 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 9b climate)
You could dig up and dry for a day, but in storing them put them in an open tray only one bulb/clump deep. Don't store in a big clump - they will sweat and rot. Your suggestion is pretty spot on. I pull my shallot bulbs out and leave them in the sun for a week or two. Trim the top off and put them in a tray 40mm x 60mm about 50cm deep. Store in the shade so they have air flow around them.
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29 Aug 20, Karen Mirikitani (USA - Zone 11b climate)
When do you add grass cuttings or dead leaves to the garden bed when growing garlic?
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31 Aug 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 3b climate)
Work out if adding to the soil or as a mulch. Google it then.
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11 Aug 20, Dan (USA - Zone 7a climate)
I bought a pack of two christopher ranch organic garlic from grocery store. How do I know if it's soft neck or hard neck.
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24 Oct 20, Pita (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Commercial garlic is treated with something that keeps it from sprouting. I always grow my own garlic and I found out it's the softneck kind because it doesn't make scapes. Softneck garlic types have bigger cloves and last longer than hardneck types. I believe Christoper Ranch garlic is hardneck, but I'm not sure.
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26 Aug 20, Robert (USA - Zone 9b climate)
When you break open the clove of garlic hardneck has a hard stem in the center. Softneck garlic does not. Most grocery store varieties are soft neck.
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13 Aug 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 9a climate)
The Christopher ranch is only the company name, not the variety of garlic. Work out the variety name and google it or ring C R. Google the difference between soft and hard garlic.
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28 Jul 20, John Madison (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Your notes say garlic is not recommended for zone 9 b. Why not? Thanks
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Showing 101 - 110 of 133 comments
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I always grow my garlic from grocery store garlic, if I have no planting cloves of my own. I am in zone7...it alwAys germinated and proceeds to grow beautiful large garlic! I ordered some a good while back from a reputable gardening site, and it did NOT do well...almost no bulbs,

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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