Garlic is a great vegetable to
plant in late fall. It’ll grow over
the winter months and be ready
for harvesting the following
summer. Check out our tips for
maximizing your garlic!
G
arlic is a delicious root vegetable
known for its pungent flavor that
can be found in most recipes. We put it on
bread, mix it in hummus, use it on proteins,
add it to salad dressing, and even use it to
ward off vampires. It’s a very versatile and
high-demand vegetable, so why not plant
some in your garden? With proper planting,
you could have enough garlic to use, store,
and give to friends and family!
Like all plants, garlic has some growing
preferences that need to be acknowledged.
There are a few basics to growing garlic —
when, where, soil preparation, seed spacing,
storage, etc. — that every gardener should
know before getting out there and planting.
Best Time to Plant Garlic
The best time to plant garlic is mid-fall.
Garlic grows throughout the winter and
spring and can be harvested the following
summer. It can also be planted in early
spring when soil thaws, but the garlic won’t
have as much time to develop and mature
as it would when planted in autumn.
Pro-tip: Fall planting yields large bulbs.
Where to Plant Garlic, Soil
Preparation, and Seed Spacing
Garlic, like most plants, should be planted in
a garden that it gets frequent daily sunlight.
Because garlic grows in the winter, it’s particu-
larly important that it receive enough warmth to
grow. Garlic may prefer cooler temperatures, but if
it’s too cold it won’t mature. Much will depend on the
soil and protective mulch covering.
For great garlic, ensure the soil is well-drained, loose,
and comprised of organic matter. If you really want to have
garlic-favorable soil, use soil with a pH balance of 6.5 to 7.0
— near neutral. For gardeners using square-foot gardens,
you can plant nine cloves of garlic per square foot. After
you’ve placed them in their respective spots (pointed ends
up), cover your garden with three to five inches of mulch. It
can be hay, chopped leaves, or grass clippings, just as long
as it’s thick enough to keep the soil from freezing.
Maximum Yield
33