Growing Garlic: How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Successfully

Choosing the Right Garlic Variety

The first step to successfully growing garlic is picking the right variety. I've experimented with dozens, but two main types stand out: softneck and hardneck garlic.

Softneck garlic stores well and has flexible stalks perfect for braiding—my grandmother braided these into beautiful aromatic ropes every autumn. Hardneck garlic, on the other hand, produces those delicious garlic scapes in summer, with intense flavor and less shelf life.

Preparing Your Soil

Garlic loves well-drained, fertile soil. Before planting, I enrich the bed with plenty of organic compost and aged manure, working it into the top few inches (about 5-10 cm) of soil.

Never plant garlic in waterlogged areas; soggy bulbs rot faster than bad fruit in sunshine.

Timing and Planting Depth

Timing is everything—I plant garlic cloves in the fall, usually between late September and mid-November, depending on climate. The idea is getting them in the ground about four to six weeks before the first hard freeze.

Plant each clove pointy-side-up (roots down) about 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) deep, spaced roughly 6 inches (15 cm) apart. Rows should sit about 12 inches (30 cm) apart to allow easy maintenance.

Step-by-Step Garlic Planting Guide

Here's how I do it every year, plain and simple:

1. Choose firm, healthy garlic bulbs and separate them into individual cloves (keep the papery skin intact).
2. Dig shallow furrows into prepared soil, then place cloves pointy-side-up at the proper spacing.
3. Cover cloves gently with soil, patting firmly to ensure good soil contact.
4. Water thoroughly, then mulch generously with straw or shredded leaves to protect them over winter.

Caring for Your Garlic Crop

Garlic needs regular watering, especially during spring growth. I water my garlic beds about once a week, providing around an inch (2.5 cm) of water if rainfall isn't sufficient.

Keeping weeds under control matters too; garlic dislikes competition. Regular weeding and maintaining mulch help greatly.

Harvesting Garlic Scapes

If you're growing hardneck garlic, you'll find scapes emerging in late spring or early summer. Carefully snip off these curly shoots to encourage larger bulbs below—and for heaven's sake, don't discard them.

These garlic scapes sauté beautifully with olive oil, salt, and pepper, giving dishes a mild garlic flavor that's simply sublime.

When to Harvest Garlic

Garlic matures roughly 8-9 months after planting. Watch for lower leaves turning yellow and browning—that signals it's almost time to harvest.

"Wait until about half the garlic plant's leaves turn brown before harvesting. Pulling too early means smaller bulbs, too late means cloves could separate and lose storage capability."

Once dug up, clean off loose soil, and cure the bulbs in a dry, shaded spot with good airflow for two to three weeks.

Storing Your Garlic Harvest

Proper curing ensures your garlic bulbs store well throughout winter. After curing, trim roots and stems, leaving about an inch (2.5 cm), and store bulbs in mesh bags or braided bunches.

Keep them cool, dry, and well-ventilated—I hang mine in a pantry or cellar, where they last beautifully until next year's garlic planting festival begins anew.

Growing garlic rewards patience and simplicity. Choose quality seed cloves, plant in fertile, well-draining soil, and provide ample sunlight. Water judiciously, mulch well, and let nature handle the rest. Months of quiet anticipation lead to harvesting fragrant, flavor-packed garlic heads. Gardening feels honest, generous—there's nothing flashy here, no shortcuts. Only the fragrant bounty of homegrown garlic, freshly pulled from earth you tended yourself. Growing garlic is slow magic worth savoring.