Fall is for Planting Garlic in the Garden

It’s October and the temperatures are getting cooler which makes it ideal for planting garlic! I just planted two raised beds full of garlic a few days ago. Garlic loves to start in cooler weather and this coming week we are predicted to have some night temperatures in the 30 degree range. It should be perfect for the newly planted garlic!

Softneck vs Hardneck Garlic

Garlic comes in two main types: softneck and hardneck. There are some differences between the two but either kind is generally easy to grow.

Softneck Garlic	Hardneck Garlic
Multiple layers of cloves often with many small cloves. (often 12-20 cloves or more)	Fewer cloves, arranged in a single layer around the stem (4-12 larger cloves).
The neck is flexible, making it easy to braid after harvesting.	The neck is stiff and woody, hence the name “hardneck.”
Has milder, subtler flavors that can vary, but is generally less pungent than hardneck.	Known for a strong, rich, and complex flavors. It’s often more pungent and spicier.
Used in everyday cooking and is the type most often found in grocery stores.	Favored by gourmet chefs and garlic enthusiasts.
Better suited for warmer climates (Mediterranean or mild regions); doesn’t need a long cold period to grow well.	Performs best in colder climates and needs a period of cold exposure (vernalization) to form bulbs.
More heat-tolerant and typically grown in areas with mild winters.	More cold-hardy than softneck varieties.
Has a longer storage life, often lasting 6-9 months or longer when stored properly.	Typically has a shorter storage life, about 3-6 months.

Growing Conditions for Garlic

Garlic is very easy to grow but does enjoy certain growing conditions for it’s optimum growth. If you live in a southern area and have a milder climate opt for a softneck garlic that doesn’t require the same type of cold that the hardneck varieties do.

Ideal Growing Conditions for Garlic

• Cool weather, plant in fall for next summer harvest
• Cold temperature period between 32 and 50 degrees F to help form bulbs. (vernalization)
• Soil: Well drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Loamy with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6-7).
• Full Sun location with a minimum of 6-8 hours of sunlight per day.
• Consistent moisture. Water during dry spells.
• Well drained soil. Garlic does not like to be in soggy soil as it can get root rot.

Planting Garlic

The planting process is very simple. I like to use raised beds to help control the soil. It’s one of several benefits to gardening in raised beds. You can see what I do in the video down below. I typically will make a small trench across the raised bed to a depth of about 1.5 to 2 inches. I space the garlic about 6 inches apart along the trench to a depth that keeps the top of the garlic about an inch under the soil surface. Then I cover the garlic.

***If you live in a colder climate than we do (we’re zone 7) then you may want to add a little more depth for frost protection.

Growing Garlic

After planting if your temperatures tend to stay very cold mulch the bed with straw, grass clippings, or leaves.

Then in spring give the plants a dose of fertilizer. I would opt for a balanced organic garden fertilizer like Espoma (aff.) or Jobe’s Organic (Aff). Use one that is a balanced fertilizer. You can fertilize again in late spring. Both these fertilizers have balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

When to Harvest Garlic

Watch for your garlic leaves to start to turn yellow. This should be during summer time the following year. To harvest the garlic grasp the stem firmly toward the bottom of the plant then gently and slowly pull the bulb from the soil. Use a hand trowel/spade to slide under the bulb and help pry it up a little if you meet any resistance.

Curing and Storage of Garlic

Garlic lasts longer when cured for a 2 to 4 week period. When you harvest it keep the roots and stems on the plant and put the bulbs in a cool, dry, and well ventilated location. Don’t wash the garlic prior to curing.

Once you have the garlic dried out brush off any excess dirt. You can hang them in mesh bags or braid the garlic to help with air circulation. If you aren’t braiding them you can cut off the stems to about 1 inch for storage.

Store your Garlic in a cool dry place and it can last quite a while!

That is basically everything you need to know to grow a nice healthy crop of garlic. Garlic is something we use in almost every dinner so having our own home grown crop will be an amazing benefit from our garden.