Growing garlic is one of the most rewarding crops you can add to your garden. It’s low maintenance, cold hardy, and stores beautifully for months. If you’re gardening in a colder climate (like Zone 5 in Upstate New York), garlic is especially reliable when planted in the fall.
Here’s your complete guide from planting to curing.
Why Grow Garlic?
- Easy to grow
- Cold hardy
- Pest resistant
- Long storage life
- Better flavor than store-bought
Plus, homegrown garlic bulbs are often larger and more flavorful than what you’ll find at the grocery store.
Types of Garlic
🧄 Hardneck Garlic
Best for cold climates (Zone 3–6)
- Produces garlic scapes
- Stronger flavor
- Fewer but larger cloves
- Stores 4–6 months
Hardneck varieties are ideal for colder regions because they tolerate freezing winters.
🧄 Softneck Garlic
Best for milder climates (Zone 6–9)
- No scapes
- More cloves per bulb
- Stores 8–12 months
- Great for braiding
If you want long storage life, softneck garlic is the way to go.
When to Plant Garlic
Fall planting is best.
Plant garlic 4–6 weeks before the ground freezes:
- Northern climates: Late September–October
- Milder climates: October–November
Garlic needs cold exposure (called vernalization) to form proper bulbs.
Where to Plant Garlic
Choose:
- Full sun (6–8 hours daily)
- Well-draining soil
- Loose, rich soil with compost added
Avoid heavy clay or soggy areas.
How to Plant Garlic
- Break apart bulbs into individual cloves (leave skins on).
- Plant cloves pointy side up.
- Space 6 inches apart.
- Plant 2–3 inches deep.
- Mulch with 4–6 inches of straw or shredded leaves.
The mulch protects cloves over winter and prevents frost heaving.
Garlic Care Through the Seasons
Spring
- Remove heavy mulch once growth begins.
- Keep soil evenly moist.
- Fertilize with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer early in the season.
Early Summer
If growing hardneck varieties:
- Cut off garlic scapes once they curl.
- This redirects energy into bulb growth.
When to Harvest Garlic
Garlic is ready when:
- Lower 2–3 leaves turn brown
- Upper leaves are still green
In most climates, harvest happens:
- Late June–July
Gently loosen soil with a garden fork and lift bulbs carefully.
How to Cure Garlic
- Do NOT wash bulbs.
- Leave roots and stalks attached.
- Hang in a dry, shaded, well-ventilated area.
- Cure for 2–3 weeks.
After curing:
- Trim roots
- Cut stalks (or braid softneck types)
- Store in a cool, dry place
Properly cured garlic can last 6–10 months.
Common Garlic Growing Mistakes
- Planting grocery store garlic (may not be suited to your climate)
- Planting too shallow
- Overwatering
- Harvesting too early
- Skipping mulch in cold climates
Bonus Tips for Bigger Bulbs
- Choose large seed garlic cloves
- Remove scapes promptly
- Don’t over-fertilize late in the season
- Rotate crops yearly (avoid planting after onions or other alliums)
Final Thoughts
Garlic is one of the easiest crops to grow, especially in colder zones. Plant it once in fall, and by summer you’ll be harvesting beautiful, flavorful bulbs that store for months.
If you have raised beds, garlic fits perfectly along the edges and between other cool-season crops.
