I never planned to become a gardener. It started with a kitchen drawer filled with sprouting garlic cloves. Something about those tiny green shoots called to me. Curious and a bit impulsive, I grabbed a pot, filled it with soil, and gently tucked the cloves in. A few months later, I pulled up my very first garlic bulbs. That moment made me realize how easy and satisfying it is to grow your own food. If you’re wondering how to grow garlic, you’ve already taken the first step: you’re curious—and garlic rewards the curious.
Garlic is one of the most beginner-friendly crops to grow. It asks for very little but gives back plenty. From its bold flavor to its health benefits, garlic is a powerhouse in the kitchen and in the garden. And the best part? You don’t need a big yard or complicated tools. If you have a bit of soil, some patience, and the willingness to try, you’re halfway there.
Learning how to grow garlic is also a great introduction to seasonal gardening. Garlic goes in the ground when most plants are going to sleep—in fall—and emerges strong and green when spring returns. This natural rhythm is part of what makes growing garlic feel almost magical.
The Garlic Planting Basics
Before you start planting, it’s important to understand what garlic needs to thrive. There are two main types:
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Hardneck garlic: Grows best in colder regions. It produces a flower stalk called a scape and has fewer, larger cloves.
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Softneck garlic: Ideal for warmer climates. It doesn’t grow scapes and tends to store longer.
Both types are great for home gardening, so choose what suits your climate and taste. Buy certified seed garlic from a garden center or farm. Grocery store garlic is often treated to prevent sprouting and may not grow well.
Best Time and Place to Plant Garlic
Plant garlic in autumn, about 4–6 weeks before your ground freezes. This timing gives the cloves a head start, allowing them to develop roots before winter.
Pick a spot that gets full sun, with loose, well-draining soil. Garlic doesn’t like to sit in waterlogged earth, so raised beds or garden plots with good drainage work best. If your soil is heavy clay, mix in compost or sand to improve texture and airflow.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Grow Garlic
1. Break and Sort the Cloves
Each clove of garlic can become a whole new bulb. Carefully separate the cloves from the bulb just before planting, keeping their papery skins on. Choose the biggest, firmest cloves—they’ll grow into the healthiest bulbs.
2. Plant the Cloves
Plant each clove with the pointy end facing up and the flat root end down. Space them about 4 to 6 inches apart, with rows about 12 inches apart. Push each clove about 2 inches deep into the soil.
3. Add Mulch
Cover your garlic bed with a layer of mulch—straw, shredded leaves, or even pine needles. Mulch helps insulate the cloves during winter and keeps weeds at bay.
4. Water Gently
Give the bed a light watering after planting to help the cloves settle in. Garlic doesn’t need much water during the cold months, but in spring, regular watering becomes important.
How to Grow Garlic Successfully Through the Seasons
In early spring, green shoots will rise through the mulch. This is your garlic waking up! From now until early summer, garlic will grow quickly, and this is when it needs the most care.
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Water consistently: About 1 inch of water per week is usually enough.
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Weed regularly: Garlic doesn’t like competition. Keep the area weed-free.
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Fertilize lightly: A little compost or fish emulsion in spring helps boost growth.
If you’re growing hardneck garlic, it will start to produce scapes—those curly green stalks—in early summer. Snip them off once they begin to curl. This tells the plant to focus its energy on growing bigger bulbs instead of flowers. Bonus: scapes are delicious! Use them in stir-fries, soups, or make a garlicky pesto.
Harvest Time
Garlic is ready to harvest in mid to late summer, usually around 7–8 months after planting. A good rule of thumb: when the bottom leaves turn yellow and dry, but the top leaves are still green, it’s time to pull your garlic.
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Loosen the soil gently with a fork—don’t pull the garlic out by hand.
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Shake off excess soil, but don’t wash the bulbs yet.
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Handle them gently so the skins stay intact.
Curing and Storing Garlic
To cure garlic, lay the bulbs in a single layer in a dry, airy place out of direct sunlight. You can also hang them in small bunches. Let them dry for 2 to 4 weeks until the outer skins are completely dry and papery.
Once cured:
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Trim the roots and cut off the stalks (or braid them if you’re storing softneck garlic).
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Store in a cool, dry place with good air circulation. Mesh bags or baskets work well.
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Don’t store garlic in the fridge—it can trigger sprouting.
Properly stored garlic can last 6 to 10 months, depending on the variety.
Troubleshooting Common Garlic Problems
Even though garlic is hardy, things can sometimes go wrong. Here are a few common issues and how to prevent them:
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Rotting cloves: Caused by too much moisture or poor drainage.
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Small bulbs: Usually from planting small cloves or overcrowding.
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Pests or disease: Rotate your crops yearly and don’t plant garlic where onions or other alliums were recently grown.
Why Growing Garlic Is Worth It
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably feeling more confident about how to grow garlic. And you should be. It’s a plant that rewards your time and care without demanding much in return.
There’s something beautiful about watching a clove transform into a full bulb over the seasons. Garlic connects you to the rhythms of nature—it teaches patience, observation, and appreciation for slow growth. Not to mention, it adds unforgettable flavor to your cooking.
From that forgotten clove in the kitchen drawer to harvesting your own homegrown garlic, this is a journey that almost anyone can take. And once you do, it’s likely to become a yearly tradition.
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Want to learn how to grow garlic at home? This step-by-step guide will help you grow fresh, flavorful garlic easily, whether you’re a beginner or seasoned gardener.
