8 Simple Steps to Grow Garlic for a Bountiful Harvest

Garlic is one of the easiest and most rewarding crops to grow, making it a staple in home gardens and homesteads.

Whether you’re planting in fall for larger bulbs or in spring using a cold-treatment method, proper planting techniques ensure a productive harvest.

To get the best results, choosing the right variety, preparing the soil correctly, and spacing cloves properly all play a crucial role.

Additionally, using methods like soil drainage testing, raised beds for heavy soil, and weed-suppressing membranes can significantly improve garlic growth.

In this article, we’ll go through 8 simple yet effective steps to help you plant garlic the right way. By the end, you’ll have all the knowledge needed to grow strong, flavorful garlic bulbs at home.

Step 1: Choose the Right Garlic Variety

Garlic may seem like a simple crop, but choosing the right variety is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when planting.

Not all garlic types grow the same way, and selecting the best one for your climate and needs will set you up for success.

There are two main types of garlic: hardneck and softneck.

The variety you choose will determine how well your garlic adapts to your growing conditions, how long it stores after harvest, and even how it tastes when used in cooking.

Hardneck Garlic

If you live in a region with cold winters, hardneck garlic is your best choice.

This type produces a single row of large cloves around a central stem, which eventually develops into a flowering stalk called a scape.

Many gardeners enjoy hardneck garlic for its bold, complex flavor and the added benefit of harvesting the scapes, which can be used in cooking before the bulbs are ready.

However, hardneck varieties typically have a shorter storage life compared to softneck garlic. While they can last for several months under proper conditions, they don’t store as long as their softneck counterparts.

Softneck Garlic

For those in warmer climates, softneck garlic is the better option. This variety grows multiple layers of cloves, making the bulb more compact and ideal for long-term storage.

If you've ever seen garlic braids hanging in kitchens, they’re most likely made from softneck garlic.

Softneck varieties tend to have a milder flavor, making them great for a variety of culinary uses.

They also last longer in storage, often up to a year, which is perfect if you want to grow garlic that lasts well beyond the harvest season.

Which One Should You Choose?

If you experience harsh winters, go with hardneck garlic. If you live in a warmer climate, softneck garlic will perform better.

Regardless of the type, always select the largest cloves from seed garlic for planting. The size of the clove directly impacts the size of the bulb it will produce.

Larger cloves grow into larger heads, while smaller cloves often result in weak plants with undersized bulbs. Save the smaller cloves for eating rather than planting to get the best results from your garlic crop.

Step 2: Select the Best Planting Location

Garlic may not be a high-maintenance crop, but where you plant it will greatly affect how well it grows. The right location ensures your garlic gets the sunlight, soil conditions, and drainage it needs to thrive.

How Much Sunlight Does Garlic Need?

Garlic is a sun-loving plant, so choose a location that gets at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day.

While garlic can tolerate partial shade, bulbs will develop best when they receive full sun exposure throughout the growing season.

If you plant in a shaded area, you’ll likely end up with smaller, less flavorful bulbs.

The Importance of Good Drainage

Garlic does not tolerate waterlogged soil, and poor drainage can quickly lead to root rot and fungal diseases.

If your soil holds too much water, your garlic won’t have the chance to develop properly. Before planting, it’s a good idea to check how well your soil drains.

To test drainage, dig a 12-inch hole and fill it with water. Once it drains completely, refill it and measure the water level.

After 15 minutes, check how much water has drained and multiply that number by four. Ideally, the soil should drain at a rate of 1 to 3 inches per hour.

Anything slower means you’ll need to improve the drainage before planting.

Raised Beds and Soil Adjustments

If your soil tends to stay wet for too long, planting in raised beds is a great solution.

Raised beds naturally improve drainage, allowing garlic roots to develop without being suffocated by excess moisture. This is especially helpful if you’re dealing with heavy clay soil.

Another option is to add grit or sand to the planting area. Mixing in coarse sand or fine gravel helps break up compacted soil, making it easier for water to drain through.

If you’re determined to grow garlic but your native soil is too dense, planting in containers with well-draining soil can also be a great alternative.

Final Considerations Before Planting

Once you’ve chosen a sunny, well-drained spot, take a moment to plan your planting rows.

If you’re planting in the fall, mark your garlic beds with stakes so you don’t accidentally disturb them before they sprout in spring.

This is an easy step that can prevent unintentional damage when working in your garden during the winter months.

Step 3: Prepare the Soil for Garlic

Garlic thrives in well-prepared soil, and the effort you put into soil preparation will directly impact the quality and size of your bulbs.

Since garlic is a root crop, the soil must be loose enough for the cloves to develop properly while still holding enough nutrients to support growth.

How to Test and Improve Soil Drainage for Garlic?

One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make when planting garlic is not checking soil drainage beforehand.

If the soil retains too much moisture, garlic bulbs can rot before they fully develop. To determine if your soil is suitable, perform a 12-inch hole water test.

Start by digging a hole that’s about a foot deep and fill it with water. Allow it to drain completely, then refill it again.

After 15 minutes, measure the change in water level and multiply that number by four. A drainage rate of 1 to 3 inches per hour is ideal for garlic. If the water drains too slowly, your soil needs amending before planting.

For heavy clay soil, improve drainage by mixing in sand, perlite, or compost. This helps create a looser structure that allows excess moisture to escape while still holding enough water for garlic roots to absorb.

Another great option is planting in raised beds, which naturally improve drainage and prevent bulbs from sitting in overly wet conditions.

How to Adjust Soil pH for Best Garlic Growth?

Garlic prefers soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. If the pH is too low (acidic), the plants may struggle to take up nutrients, leading to slow growth and small bulbs.

If the soil is too alkaline, garlic can develop weak roots and become more susceptible to disease.

You can test your soil’s pH using a simple home testing kit or a digital soil tester. If the pH is too acidic, apply lime to raise it. If it’s too alkaline, sulfur can help lower it to the right level.

Enriching the Soil with Nutrients

Garlic is a heavy feeder, meaning it requires nutrient-rich soil to grow strong bulbs.

To improve fertility, mix aged compost or well-rotted manure into the planting area at least two weeks before planting. This provides a slow release of nutrients without overwhelming young garlic plants.

If your soil is lacking essential nutrients, applying a balanced organic fertilizer before planting can help.

However, avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they encourage leafy growth at the expense of bulb development.

Instead, choose fertilizers with a balanced ratio of phosphorus and potassium, which support root growth and bulb formation.

Proper soil preparation ensures your garlic has everything it needs to develop strong roots, resist disease, and produce large, healthy bulbs.

Taking the time to improve soil quality before planting will give you the best possible harvest.

Step 4: Determine the Right Planting Time

Timing is everything when it comes to planting garlic. Plant too early, and your cloves may sprout prematurely and suffer from frost damage.

Plant too late, and they won’t have enough time to establish strong roots before the growing season begins.

Fall vs. Spring Planting: Which One is Best?

The best time to plant garlic depends on your climate, but fall planting is generally preferred.

Planting in the fall allows cloves to develop strong roots before winter, leading to larger bulbs at harvest time.

For most regions, garlic should be planted 4 to 6 weeks before the first hard frost. This gives the cloves enough time to settle into the soil and begin root growth before winter dormancy.

When spring arrives, the plants will already have a head start, resulting in bigger and healthier bulbs.

In warmer climates, where winter temperatures remain mild, garlic can be planted in late fall or early winter.

Softneck varieties, in particular, thrive in these conditions and continue growing steadily throughout the season.

Spring Planting and the Importance of Cold Treatment

If you’re planting garlic in the spring, you’ll need to take an extra step to ensure proper bulb development.

Garlic requires a cold period to trigger bulb formation. Without this, the plant may only produce a single round bulb instead of individual cloves.

To mimic winter conditions, refrigerate garlic bulbs for at least 8 weeks before planting. Keep them in a breathable container or paper bag in the vegetable crisper section of your fridge.

This process, known as vernalization, signals to the garlic that it has gone through winter, allowing it to grow properly when planted in spring.

Once the soil is workable and temperatures remain consistently above 40°F (4°C), garlic can be planted outdoors.

However, spring-planted garlic tends to produce smaller bulbs than fall-planted garlic, so if your climate allows for fall planting, it’s the better option.

Marking Your Planting Areas for Fall Crops

When planting garlic in the fall, it’s easy to forget where you placed the cloves, especially when working in the garden over winter.

To prevent accidental digging or disturbance, mark your garlic beds with stakes or row markers.

This simple step ensures that you don’t accidentally plant something else in the same area or disturb the cloves while they’re developing underground.

It’s an easy way to keep your garden organized and protect your garlic until spring growth begins.

Step 5: Prepare Garlic Cloves for Planting

Once you’ve selected your garlic variety and prepared the planting area, the next step is preparing the cloves themselves.

How you handle the cloves before planting can impact their ability to sprout, grow strong roots, and develop into large, healthy bulbs.

Separating and Selecting the Best Cloves

Garlic is planted from individual cloves rather than seeds, and the quality of the clove you plant will directly influence the size of the bulb it produces.

To get the best results, start by separating the cloves from the bulb a day or two before planting.

When separating the cloves, be gentle to avoid damaging their outer protective skin. The papery covering should remain intact to help protect the cloves from soil pathogens and moisture loss.

If the skin is torn or removed, the clove becomes more vulnerable to disease and may struggle to establish roots.

Larger cloves produce larger bulbs, while smaller cloves tend to yield weaker plants with undersized bulbs.

For this reason, always plant the largest and healthiest cloves, setting aside any small or damaged ones for cooking instead.

Keeping the Root Plate Intact

Each garlic clove has a flat base, known as the root plate, where the roots will emerge once planted.

It’s important to keep this part intact when handling cloves. Any damage to the root plate can interfere with the clove’s ability to take root and grow properly.

Optional: Pre-Soaking Cloves for Disease Prevention

Some gardeners choose to pre-soak garlic cloves before planting to prevent fungal infections and promote strong growth.

If you’re planting in an area where soil-borne diseases are common, soaking your cloves in a mild solution can help protect them.

A common pre-soaking solution includes one tablespoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of liquid seaweed extract per quart of water.

Cloves are soaked for 15 to 30 minutes before planting, then dried briefly to prevent excess moisture from causing rot. This step is optional, but it can give garlic an extra layer of protection against disease.

By taking the time to properly separate, select, and prepare your garlic cloves, you’ll ensure they have the best possible start in the soil.

Healthy cloves with intact skins and root plates will establish quickly, leading to strong plants and a productive harvest.

Step 6: Plant Garlic the Right Way

Now that your cloves are ready, it’s time to get them in the ground. Proper planting depth, spacing, and orientation all play a role in how well garlic develops.

Digging the Planting Holes or Rows

Garlic needs enough space to develop properly, so take care when spacing your cloves. If planting in rows, dig small holes or a shallow trench about 2 inches deep.

If planting in a raised bed or container, individual holes work best.

Each clove should be spaced 6 inches apart, with rows about 12 inches apart. This allows enough room for bulbs to expand while ensuring good airflow between plants.

Proper spacing also helps reduce the risk of fungal diseases, which thrive in crowded conditions.

Placing the Cloves Correctly

One of the most important aspects of planting garlic is ensuring that the cloves are positioned correctly in the soil. Each clove must be planted with the pointed tip facing up and the flat root plate facing down.

If a clove is planted upside down, it will struggle to sprout properly. While the shoot will eventually find its way upward, this can delay growth and result in weaker plants.

Once positioned, gently cover the cloves with 2 inches of soil, pressing lightly to remove air pockets but not compacting the soil too much.

Using a Weed-Suppressing Membrane for Easier Maintenance

Weeds can quickly become a problem in garlic beds, competing for nutrients and making it harder for bulbs to develop properly.

One way to reduce weeding effort is to use a weed-suppressing membrane with pre-cut slits for planting.

These membranes help keep unwanted weeds from taking over while still allowing the garlic plants to grow freely.

This method is especially useful in larger gardens or for those who prefer a lower-maintenance approach to weed control.

Final Soil Covering and Watering

After planting, apply a light watering to help settle the soil around the cloves.

The goal is to provide enough moisture to encourage root development without soaking the soil too much, as excessive moisture can lead to rot.

With the cloves properly planted and soil gently firmed around them, your garlic is now set up for a successful growing season.

In the next steps, we’ll cover how to water and mulch to protect your plants as they begin to establish roots.

Step 7: Water and Mulch After Planting

Once your garlic is planted, the next crucial step is ensuring proper watering and applying mulch to protect the soil.

Watering Garlic for Strong Root Development

Garlic needs consistent moisture to establish strong roots, but too much water can quickly lead to rot.

After planting, give the soil a light but thorough watering to help settle the cloves in place. Avoid overwatering, as garlic prefers soil that is moist but not waterlogged.

During the first few weeks after planting, check the soil regularly. If the top inch of soil feels dry, water just enough to keep it damp.

In most climates, garlic only needs watering once or twice a week during its early growth stages.

If you're planting in fall, natural rainfall may be enough, but in drier climates, occasional watering may still be necessary.

For those growing garlic in containers or raised beds, soil tends to dry out faster, so you may need to water more frequently. However, always check the moisture level before watering to avoid over-saturating the soil.

As garlic enters its winter dormancy, watering can be reduced or stopped entirely. Too much moisture during winter can cause cloves to rot underground, especially in areas with heavy rainfall or poor drainage.

The Importance of Mulching Garlic Beds

Mulch is one of the best ways to protect garlic plants and improve soil conditions. Applying a layer of organic mulch after planting helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and prevent weed growth.

For fall-planted garlic, mulch provides insulation against freezing temperatures, helping to protect the cloves during the winter months.

For spring-planted garlic, it helps keep the soil from drying out too quickly as temperatures rise.

The best mulching materials for garlic include:

• Straw – Lightweight, easy to spread, and helps retain moisture while allowing airflow.
• Shredded leaves – An excellent option that provides insulation and breaks down to improve soil health.
• Grass clippings – Useful as mulch, but apply in thin layers to prevent matting.
• Pine needles – A good choice for moisture retention but should be used lightly.

Spread the mulch in a 2 to 4-inch layer, covering the soil evenly without packing it down too tightly. The goal is to protect the soil while still allowing enough airflow to prevent excess moisture buildup.

If planting in a region with harsh winters, check the mulch layer before the first frost. If needed, add an extra inch to provide additional insulation.

Once spring arrives and temperatures warm up, you can remove some of the mulch to allow more sunlight to reach the soil.

Step 8: Avoid Common Planting Mistakes

Even with the best intentions, some common mistakes can hinder garlic growth and lead to smaller or less flavorful bulbs. By knowing what to watch out for, you can ensure that your garlic crop reaches its full potential.

Planting Cloves Upside Down

One of the most frequent mistakes new growers make is planting cloves with the wrong orientation. Garlic cloves must be planted with the pointed tip facing up and the flat root plate facing down.

If a clove is planted upside down, the shoot will struggle to grow properly, leading to weak plants and delayed development.

Crowding Cloves Too Closely

Proper spacing is crucial for garlic bulbs to reach their full size. If cloves are planted too close together, they will compete for nutrients, resulting in smaller bulbs.

Always maintain at least 6 inches of space between each clove and 12 inches between rows to allow for adequate airflow and root expansion.

Overwatering or Poor Drainage

Garlic needs moisture but cannot tolerate soggy soil. Overwatering, or planting in soil that doesn’t drain well, can cause bulbs to rot before they have a chance to mature.

If your soil retains too much water, consider planting in raised beds or adding grit or sand to improve drainage.

Skipping Cold Treatment for Spring-Planted Garlic

If you're planting garlic in the spring, failing to refrigerate the bulbs for at least 8 weeks can lead to poor bulb formation.

Without this cold exposure, garlic may only develop into a single round bulb instead of forming multiple cloves.

To ensure a productive harvest, store bulbs in the fridge before planting to mimic the natural winter dormancy they would experience in fall.

Forgetting to Mark Garlic Beds

For fall plantings, it’s easy to forget where garlic was planted, especially once winter sets in.

Accidentally digging up cloves or planting something else in the same space can disturb garlic growth.

Using stakes or row markers is a simple way to keep track of your garlic beds and avoid unnecessary disturbance.

Allowing Weeds to Take Over

Garlic grows best in weed-free soil. Weeds compete for nutrients and moisture, making it harder for garlic to develop properly.

One of the best ways to reduce weeds is using a weed-suppressing membrane with pre-cut slits, allowing garlic to grow while keeping weeds under control.

If growing without a membrane, regular hand weeding or mulching will help keep weeds at bay.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll ensure that your garlic crop grows strong, healthy, and productive.

With everything in place, you can now focus on monitoring your garlic’s progress as it continues to grow throughout the season.

Grow Garlic!

Planting garlic may be simple, but the key to a successful harvest lies in careful planning and proper techniques.

Now that you’ve learned how to plant garlic the right way, the next focus is ensuring that your crop continues to thrive throughout the growing season.

Garlic requires consistent care, from proper watering and fertilizing to controlling weeds and preventing diseases.

To help you with the next stage of garlic cultivation, check out my in-depth guide on How to Grow Garlic, where I’ll cover everything you need to know about maintaining your garlic plants, dealing with pests, and ensuring a strong, healthy harvest.

With the right approach, growing garlic can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Whether you’re planting for personal use or looking to grow a steady supply for storage, taking the time to do it right will pay off when harvest season arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I plant store-bought garlic?

While it’s possible, it’s not recommended to plant garlic from the grocery store. Many commercial garlic bulbs are treated with growth inhibitors to prevent sprouting, and they may also carry diseases. For the best results, always plant certified seed garlic from a reputable supplier.

How long does garlic take to grow?

Garlic takes about 8 to 9 months from planting to harvest. Fall-planted garlic starts growing roots before winter dormancy, then resumes active growth in spring and is ready for harvest by early to mid-summer. Spring-planted garlic grows continuously but may produce smaller bulbs due to a shorter growing period.

Do I need to fertilize garlic after planting?

Yes, garlic benefits from a balanced fertilizer applied 2 to 3 weeks after planting. Avoid excessive nitrogen early on, as it promotes leafy growth instead of bulb development. Once the plants establish, side-dress with compost or an organic fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium to support bulb growth.

Can I grow garlic in containers?

Yes! Garlic can be successfully grown in containers as long as the pot is at least 6 to 8 inches deep and has good drainage. Use a well-draining potting mix, place the container in full sun, and ensure regular watering since soil in pots dries out faster than garden beds.

What should I do if my garlic starts sprouting before winter?

If your garlic starts sprouting in fall or early winter, don’t worry—this is common, especially in mild climates. The plant will slow its growth as temperatures drop, and it will resume full growth in spring. To protect young shoots from extreme cold, add an extra layer of mulch over the garlic bed.