How to Plant Garlic Cloves in Fall

Things are wrapping up in the garden for another season, but before closing your beds for the winter, you need to get those garlic bulbs into the ground! Garlic is a staple in many kitchens and offers numerous health benefits. Plant garlic now if you want to harvest scapes next spring and store pounds of cloves next fall, saving a significant amount of money at the grocery store. 

When to Plant Garlic in the Fall 

Gardeners should typically plant garlic four to six weeks before their region’s first frost date, which gives the bulbs and cloves time to establish roots before winter. If experiencing a mild fall with above-average temperatures, hold off until things start cooling down. Garlic needs a chilling period of four to eight weeks with temperatures below 40°F or 4°C for proper bulb formation. 

Types of Garlic: Hardneck vs Softneck 

When planting garlic in the garden, you’ll need to choose between hardneck and softneck varieties. 

Softneck garlic varieties have a mild flavor and typically have many small cloves in a single head. This is what you’ll most often find at the supermarket because it has a shelf life of about 9 to 12 months. Softneck garlic grows better in warmer climates. Popular varieties include ‘Easy Italian Purple’ and ‘Inchelium Red’.   

Hardneck garlic varieties are packed with a spicy flavor, have a central stalk, and are larger with fewer cloves. They produce edible scapes in the spring, which are delicious and can be stored in the fridge for a long time. The garlic head itself, however, won’t keep as long as softneck varieties; store it safely for about 4 to 6 months. Hardneck garlic is best for gardens in cold climates. Popular varieties include ‘Russian Red’ and ‘Music’. 

How to Plant Garlic

To prevent your garlic bulbs from drying out, don’t separate them into cloves until it’s time to plant. From each clove you plant, a new head of garlic will emerge. Use the biggest cloves in the garden for the best results. 

Garlic requires fertile, well-drained, and loamy soil. Amend beds with compost before planting. It thrives in full sun but can also tolerate some shade. 

Plant the cloves about two inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart. Rows must be a foot apart. 

If the soil is dry, water after planting. In cold climates, cover the garden bed with a four-inch layer of mulch such as chopped leaves, straw, or dry glass clippings.  In milder regions, a thin layer of mulch will do; one or two inches is ideal. 

Planting Garlic in a Container

You can absolutely plant garlic in a container, making it a perfect crop choice for urban gardeners. A 5-gallon pot that is about 12 inches in diameter is best. Plant six cloves in each 5-gallon pot about 4 inches apart. Mulch as directed above.

Now you can close the garden bed for the winter, relax, and look forward to next season’s garlic harvest! For tips on harvesting, curing, and storing, read this article.