How to Grow Fall Garlic

Fall is the best time to plant garlic—three weeks before the ground freezes, so the roots can develop but not poke through the surface before winter. As a raised bed gardener, I reserve a new spot every fall after removing all the summer garden debris and amending my soil with compost for the winter. Garlic is a species in the onion genus–Allium—closely related to onions, shallots, leeks, and chives. These plants require at least two years, if not more, between successive plantings to allow the soil to recover. Garlic plants are hardy and not affected by many pests or diseases. They do require full sun and loamy soil.

Selecting Garlic Cloves

Select cloves for planting based on your preference for flavor and use. Cloves purchased from grocery stores are not a good choice. The varieties might be unsuitable for your area. Also, most are treated with chemicals to prolong their shelf life. These chemicals prevent sprouting and make growing from them harder.  Find a reputable dealer and choose only clean, sound cloves. Local farmers who grow garlic are an excellent seed source.

Where to Plant Garlic

Garlic should be planted in a spot not recently used for garlic or other onion-related plants. It should be planted away from areas where water can collect, causing roots to rot or become diseased.

It is important to plant garlic in fertile, well-drained soil. Raised beds works well for growing garlic. To ensure large bulbs remove any rocks from the top 4-5 inches of soil. Then, work several inches of compost into the bed, along with 10-10-10 fertilizer.

How to Plant Garlic

You will need to break your bulbs down a maximum of a day before planting so the root nodules stay dry and can set roots quickly. Sort the cloves and reserve the largest for planting; smaller cloves can be used in recipes. Larger cloves will yield larger bulbs at harvest time. Planting garlic is relatively simple—separate cloves. Space the cloves 4-6" apart. Rows should be spaced one foot apart. The cloves should be planted with the pointed end up and the blunt end down. Push each clove 1-2" into the ground, firm the soil around it, and water the bed if it is dry. With your soil amended, plant your cloves, root side down and upright. Place plants four to eight inches apart and at least two inches below the surface in a single row or in several rows.

Mulching Garlic

Garlic needs to be mulched with four inches of straw or shredded leaves. Mulch insulates and prevents the freezing/thawing action, which can push cloves out of the ground. It also helps conserve water and block weeds.

Watering Garlic

Garlic requires moderately even watering during the growing season to ensure full bulb development. Dying back of the leaves indicates that harvest time is nigh. At this time, scale back watering. Using a flat shovel, loosen the soil around a few cloves, lifting them by hand as they can bruise easily to determine if they have reached prime maturity. You want to harvest before the wrappers deteriorate or split open. To harvest, carefully lift the bulbs with a spade or garden fork. Pull the plants, carefully brush off the soil, and let them cure in an airy, shady spot for two weeks.

When to Harvest Garlic

You will know when to harvest garlic when most of the leaves have turned brown. This usually occurs in mid-July to early August, depending on your climate. At this time, you may dig the bulbs up. If the bulbs are left in the ground too long, they may separate and will not store well. Let the garlic plants dry in a shady, well-ventilated area for two or three weeks.

In late summer, bend over tops to hasten their yellowing and drying. Then, pull up the garlic plants and allow them to dry in the sun for a few hours. Spread out in a well-ventilated place until the tops are thoroughly dry (2-3 weeks).

The garlic can be tied in bunches, braided, or cut a few inches above the bulb. Cool, airy areas are ideal for hanging braids and bunches or storing loose bulbs.

Curing Garlic

The bulbs are cured and ready to be stored when the roots are dry and the outer wrapper is dry and papery. Remove loose dirt and trim off any roots. Leave the outer wrappers on, but remove the dirtiest wrappers. Store bulbs in a cool, dark, dry place. As the bulb dries, the flavor increases.

Saving Garlic Seeds and Bulbs

If you plan on planting garlic again next season, save some of your largest, best-formed bulbs to plant again in the fall. We have a detailed video on our youtube channel or watch below.

More Gardening Help

 If you're looking for even more detailed information, check out our gardening section of the website. If you still have questions about planting, growing, and harvesting radishes, let me know in the comments section below or contact me through our private Facebook group.

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