One of the best plants to grow in your home yard is garlic. It’s simple, doesn’t need much care, and adds a fresh, tasty touch to your meals. But how do you grow garlic from a clove? We’ll walk you through the whole process in this guide, from choosing the right type of garlic to gathering your crop.
Plant garlic cloves two inches deep, with the pointy part facing up. As long as the pots are deep enough and have good drainage, you can grow them in them. In cooler places, early spring is best, or in the autumn, 6 to 8 weeks before the first freeze. To focus on bulb development, cut off garlic scapes, which are flower stalks that grow in late spring. From planting to harvesting garlic, it can take anywhere from 7 to 9 months, based on the type and the growing conditions. You can grow garlic from the store, but make sure it’s organic or untreated, as most store-bought garlic is treated to prevent sprouting.
While it may seem like magic to grow garlic from a single clove, it’s actually based on simple farming skills that even a beginner can learn. If you follow these steps, you can grow garlic in any space, from a big garden in your backyard to a small porch.
Selecting the Right Garlic Clove
Picking the right garlic clove is the first thing you need to do to start growing garlic. But not every garlic clove is the same. It comes in two main types: softneck and hardneck. Each type has its own flavour and needs for growth.
In food shops, you can usually find softneck styles, which are popular in hot places. They keep well and are great for twisting. On the other hand, hardneck garlic does better in colder places and grows a centre stalk called a “scape” that you can pick before the bulb is fully grown.
Make sure the garlic cloves you use are organic or have not been treated with chemicals, since conventionally grown garlic may be treated with chemicals to stop it from growing. To be sure of good results, you can also buy garlic seeds from a neighbourhood garden or online.
How to Plant Garlic from a Garlic Clove
Step 1: Prepare the Soil
Garlic thrives in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil with plenty of organic matter. Before planting, loosen the soil to a depth of about 8 inches, and work in some compost or well-rotted manure. Garlic prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil, with a pH level of around 6.0 to 7.0.
Step 2: Plant the Cloves
Once your soil is prepared, it’s time to plant the cloves. Place each clove in the soil with the pointed end facing up and the flat, root side down. Plant them 2 inches deep and space them about 6 inches apart to give the garlic bulbs room to grow.
Step 3: Mulch and Water
After planting, cover the area with a layer of mulch—straw, leaves, or grass clippings work well. Mulching helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Water the garlic thoroughly after planting and continue to water it regularly, especially during dry spells. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, as garlic does not tolerate soggy conditions.
Garlic Growing Stages
Even though garlic isn’t very hard to take care of, it’s important to know the steps of its growth so you can give it the right care during the growing season.
Winter Dormancy:
After planting in the fall, garlic enters a period of dormancy over winter. The cloves will develop roots underground, even if you don’t see any growth above the soil.
Spring Growth:
As the weather warms, garlic shoots will emerge from the soil. This is a critical growth period, so make sure the plants receive consistent moisture. You can also apply a balanced fertilizer to encourage healthy growth.
Scape Formation:
For hardneck garlic varieties, you’ll notice a long, curly stalk called a scape developing in late spring or early summer. It’s essential to cut these scapes off once they curl to redirect energy into bulb formation. Plus, scapes are delicious and can be used in cooking!
Bulb Development:
As summer progresses, the garlic bulbs will continue to grow. Reduce watering once the leaves begin to yellow, signalling that the garlic is nearing maturity.
How Do You Plant Sprouted Garlic Cloves?
Don’t throw away garlic cloves that have grown new leaves. Garlic seeds that have been spread can still grow into healthy plants. You plant them like you would regular garlic cloves, but be careful not to hurt the growing shoots as you move them around.
Soil that drains well should be used to plant sprouted garlic. Each sprouted clove should be put in the soil so that the green shoot just above the surface sticks out. Make sure the root end is buried all the way down. Because they’ve already started to grow, sprouted cloves tend to grow faster, but the garlic they make will taste just as good as garlic grown from cloves that don’t have sprouts.
What is the Best Soil for Garlic?
The best soil for garlic is one that is full of nutrients, drains well, and has a good mix of organic matter. It grows best in soil that is slightly acidic to neutral, in a range of 6.0 to 7.0. Adding compost or well-rotted dung to your dirt will help plants grow better. Garlic can’t grow in wet soil, so it needs to be able to drain well. If your dirt is mostly clay, you might want to use raised beds to keep water from getting to the bulbs and killing them. Putting down straw or leaves as mulch also helps keep the soil wet while keeping it open and airy.
When and How to Plant Garlic
People usually plant garlic in the autumn, six to eight weeks before the first hard frost. This gives the garlic time to grow roots before going dormant for the winter. But in warmer places, garlic can also be grown in early spring. Pick garlic cloves that are big and healthy, and then put them about 6 inches apart in dirt that has been turned over. Put one clove in the ground two inches deep, with the flat end down and the pointy end up. After you plant, give the place a lot of water and cover it with grass to keep it safe over the winter.
How to Use Fresh Garlic from the Garden?
When your garlic is ready, you can eat it straight from the yard and enjoy its fresh, bright flavours. Like store-bought garlic, fresh garlic can be used in the same ways. However, fresh garlic has a stronger flavour. To make soups taste smoother, chop the cloves and add them. You can also sauté them with veggies or roast them for a sweeter taste. If you like hardneck garlic, you should also try garlic scapes, which are the flower stalks. You can chop them up and put them in soups, stir-fry them, or add a spicy twist to pesto.
How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Garlic
There are only a few easy steps to planting garlic, but you need to pay attention to when you do it, make sure the dirt is ready, and take care of it while it grows. First, choose healthy garlic cloves from the last crop or buy garlic seeds from a reputable seller. Loosen the dirt until it’s at least 8 inches deep, and then add a lot of organic matter. Garlic needs to be watered regularly once it is planted and all through the growing season, but especially in the spring when it grows the fastest.
When the bottom leaves turn brown but the top leaves stay green, it’s time to pick the garlic. To pick the bulbs, carefully break up the dirt around them and lift them out of the ground. Garlic can be stored for months if the bulbs are hung in a well-ventilated area to cure.
Garlic Type (Hardneck Garlics, Softneck Garlics)
If you want to know how to grow garlic, you need to know about the different kinds. It comes in two main types: hardneck and softneck. Hardneck garlic types do better in colder areas and grow garlic scapes, which can be picked and eaten before the bulbs are fully grown. Softneck garlic types, which grow well in warmer places, don’t make scapes but last longer and are great for braiding garlic.
The garlic that you usually find in food shops, called softneck garlic, has a stronger flavour. Gourmet cooks, on the other hand, like hardneck garlic because it has a more rich flavour and cloves that are bigger and easier to peel.
Timing Your Garlic Planting
For a good yield, you must plant garlic at the right time. Most places plant garlic in the autumn, six to eight weeks before the ground freezes. Making this move now gives the garlic time to grow roots before it gets cold. In warmer areas, garlic can also be planted in early spring, but plants that are put in the autumn tend to be bigger. When to plant will depend on when it frosts where you live, but try to do it when the soil is around 50°F (10°C).
Preparing Garlic Planting Beds
Before planting garlic, it’s essential to prepare the soil properly. Start by choosing a sunny location, as garlic needs at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Loosen the soil to a depth of 8–12 inches and mix in compost or aged manure. The soil should be well-drained, as garlic doesn’t tolerate waterlogged conditions. If you have clay-heavy soil, consider planting in raised beds or adding sand to improve drainage. Adding mulch after planting will help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
Harvesting and Storing Garlic
Depending on when it was grown, garlic is usually picked in the middle to end of summer. Check the leaves to see if your garlic is ready to be picked. To pick, wait until the top leaves are still green but the bottom two-thirds of the leaves have turned brown. Carefully lift the bulbs out of the ground with a planting fork so as not to damage them.
After being picked, garlic needs to be dried so that it can be stored. For two to four weeks, put the bulbs in a dry, well-ventilated room that is not in full sunlight. Peel off the garlic’s roots and stalks, and then store it somewhere cool and dry. If you keep garlic the right way, it can last up to a year.
Common Issues and How to Avoid Them
Even though garlic is usually easy to grow, it can still get some diseases and pests. Things to keep an eye out for are these:
Pests:
Nematodes and onion maggots can hurt garlic plants. Changing up your crops and growing garlic in dirt that drains well can help lower the risk of pests.
Diseases:
Some diseases that garlic can get are fungal diseases like white rot and downy mildew. To avoid these problems, don’t water the plants too much and make sure there is good air flow around them.
Poor Bulb Development:
If your garlic bulbs are small, it could be because they are too close together, the dirt isn’t getting enough nutrients, or you aren’t watering them enough. Make sure to put according to the directions and give the plant the care it needs during the growing season.
