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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17 Mar 23, Donna (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Can I plant garlic now (mid March) I have some that has sprouted... or to late this year?
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07 May 23, Douglas Peterson (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I have had great success here in Las Vegas and you can grow just about any type you want- but it needs to be planted in mid to late October. I will be harvesting in 3-4 weeks.
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16 Apr 23, Michelle (USA - Zone 9b climate)
It needs cold stratification. So it too late for yours in our zone. Next year put some in the frig in October, then plant late December or early January. Need to use Softneck garlic.
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21 Mar 23, Anonymous (USA - Zone 9b climate)
It doesn't recommend growing in your climate zone.
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10 Feb 23, Jorel Neville (USA - Zone 7b climate)
Which is best, hard neck or soft neck in zone 7b? Charlotte area
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27 Jan 23, Michelle (USA - Zone 7a climate)
I have some German garlic that I really need to plant. Is it too late to plant it in a raised bed in my Zone 7a right now? Still have about 8 to 10 weeks of 20 to 30 degree nights ahead. Thanks!
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07 Jan 23, Alan Kuchas (USA - Zone 3b climate)
I’m in zone 3a-3b. In your note for planting garlic , it suggest planting in APRIL? I always plant in October for next years harvest in aug-Sept. if I plant in April will I get bulbs in the Fall?
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23 Jan 23, Anonymous (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Have read, plant in the shortest daylight hours and harvest in the longest hrs of sunlight.
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10 Dec 22, Clifford Foy (USA - Zone 8a climate)
Got some garlic for planting today. This has been a very strange year. Today temp is 50 inn the morning . Can expect some more rain. No cold weather so far. Can I plant the garlic or should I wait till march )running the risk of getting it spoiled. What shall I do?
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18 Nov 22, Mairlyn (USA - Zone 8a climate)
I read that I should place my garlic in the refrigerator for 7 to 8 weeks before planting. I read this after the fact. How will no refrigeration prior to planting effect my results?
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Showing 21 - 30 of 126 comments
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David, I also live in Zone 10A but in California (hot and dry, average 10 inches of rain per year), and please IGNORE the Aussie who thinks we do not check our Zone 10A recommendations. I have been container gardening here for a couple years and am still learning, with notable mistakes being not knowing correct planting/harvesting times (I now use this website over anything on a seed package), overcrowding, and overwatering. I have successfully grown garlic in Zone 10A, from store bought garlic cloves that were sprouting tiny green shoots, and they produced but the heads and cloves were only about half the size as the original store-bought, which might be caused by the climate, or more likely from be the mistakes I was making trying to grow new things like crowding, overwatering, and not knowing when to plant or harvest. Anyway, give growing garlic a try and my best advice is to avoid overwatering. I had a lot of cloves rot instead of growing and I think it was because of overwatering. After doing more research I'm trying to grow garlic again by planting some in NOV, and some in DEC, and really monitoring the watering. Even though my garlic was half sized, it still tastes great, so I would rather have half sized garlic I can grow myself than not growing garlic.

- Dave in California Zone 10A

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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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