How to Plant and Grow Garlic Productively
AuthorEverything you need to know about planting and growing garlic
Planting and growing garlic is very easy and can be done successfully even by beginners. This bulb vegetable is an indispensable ingredient in cuisines all over the world, and it’s also known for its medicinal properties, making it one of the most popular vegetables. However, the quality of garlic can vary greatly, and home-grown garlic is, in most cases, much more aromatic, complex in taste and healthier than the garlic found in supermarkets.
In this topic, we will focus on how and when to plant garlic, along with what types of garlic are best for planting, and what’s essential to do when growing this vegetable.
When to plant garlic
There are two main times for garlic planting: fall and spring.
When planting garlic in fall, it’s best to plant as late as possible — ideally about two weeks before the soil freezes completely. This means planting garlic just before the first estimated hard frost date for your climate. Late planting prevents the garlic from germinating prematurely and prevents the development of various fungal diseases.
In the spring, plant garlic as soon as possible after the soil has thawed. Later planting dates (April to May) significantly reduce the yield.
Most garlic growers prefer fall planting, because then the garlic can take root during the autumn and winter, beginning the spring growing season 4-6 weeks earlier than garlic planted in spring, resulting in a larger yield. Another advantage of planting garlic in the autumn is that after the summer harvest, you can still plant other vegetables in the same bed.
Where to plant garlic
Soil with plenty of organic matter and nutrients in a sunny location is suitable for growing garlic. Different garlic varieties are suited different soil conditions (sandy or clay soil), so it’s a good idea to experiment to find the variety that does best in your garden.
Proper rotation of plants in the garden is also important. Garlic should not be planted in the same spot where bulb vegetables (including garlic) have been planted for at least 4 years. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to plant garlic in a place where vegetables with low nutrient requirements (root vegetables, leafy greens, beetroot, parsnips, chard, winter cover-crops) were planted the previous season. If you’re also growing onions, they should be as far away from garlic as possible to avoid the potential for diseases to be transmitted between them.
Planting garlic step by step
Step 1. Before planting garlic, the soil needs to be cultivated to a depth of 20 - 30 cm/8 - 12 inches and nutrients need to be incorporated in the form of compost or other natural fertilizer, as garlic is a nutrient-intensive plant. Garlic does not like waterlogged soil, so it’s advisable to raise the garlic planting bed slightly (10 – 20 cm/4 – 8 inches) above the surrounding ground level. Ideally, the soil should be cultivated 3-4 weeks before planting to give the soil time to settle a little.
Step 2. Plant garlic cloves at a depth of 8-10 cm/3 – 4 inches (or 5 cm/2 inches in a spring planting), with the pointed end of the clove pointing upwards. Ideally, choose the largest cloves for planting, and keep their skin intact. Place the cloves in prepared rows dug with a hoe, or push them directly into the soil by hand if it is loose enough. An alternative is to poke the planting holes with a stake, but this method tends to leave an air pocket under the planted garlic, which is not good for the plant. Mark planting rows with twine to ensure that the garlic is planted in straight lines for maximum usage of the area.
Step 3. The recommended spacing between garlic cloves is 10-12 cm/ 4 – 5 inches, with 20 - 35 cm / 8 – 14 inches between planting rows. This larger spacing between rows is important to provide more airflow and working space for weeding and cultivation. Allow larger spacing for softnecks and broad-leaved varieties, with less needed for hardnecks and narrow-leaved varieties.
Step 4. Cover the planted garlic cloves with soil and water generously.
Step 5. When planting garlic in fall, cover the bed completely with a 5 cm/ 2 inch layer of mulch (chicory, straw or dry leaves). This protects the planted garlic from rapid fluctuations in soil temperature, keeping it from experiencing temperature shocks until it has rooted well. In addition, a thick layer of mulch prevents the soil from drying out and reduces the growth of weeds.
What type of garlic to choose for planting
Garlic for planting can be collected from you last year's harvest or purchased from proven seed garlic sellers. The garlic on the supermarket shelves is not suitable for planting, not just because of the variety, but mainly because it contains inhibitors that slow down germination and plant growth. In any case, it is beneficial if garlic for planting is treated with sulfur-based fungicide (in some cases, seed garlic sellers offer garlic seed that has already been treated with fungicide), as this prevents the transmission of a number of diseases and pests.
Buy your garlic seed only from proven sellers who offer healthy cloves free of diseases and pests, because if you bring in garlic infected with nematodes or garlic white rot, you won't be able to get rid of these problems easily.
Growers recognize 3 main types of garlic: Hardneck garlic, softneck garlic and elephant garlic, but there are hundreds of varieties available for planting.
Find more about Garlic types and varieties
Garlic varieties for planting
Depending on the growing season, you’ll want to choose between early-, mid- and late-season garlic, which ripen at different times (early - during July and late - between August and early September). Garlic is also often divided into winter (fall) and spring garlic, which indicates the ideal planting time for maximum yield, but in fact all varieties can be planted in both fall and spring. For spring planting, the late-season varieties are preferable.
Most growers prefer to plant garlic in autumn, which has the advantage of rooting the garlic in autumn, leading to earlier growth and ripening.
Garlic care after planting
Garlic care after planting is very easy. Growers just need to pay attention to two important things: weed control and disease & pest control.
As soon as the garlic sprouts and grows to a height of 10 - 15 cm / 4 – 6 inches in spring, you can remove the mulch, or leave it. If you do remove the mulch, you’ll need to lightly cultivate the surface of the soil to prevent any weeds from germinating. If any weeds do appear in the bed during the season, they should be removed.
Garlic pests and diseases
The most common diseases of garlic are soil-borne fungal diseases: White Rot (Sclerotium cepivorum), Penicillium Decay (Penicillium hirsutum), Downy Mildew (Peronospora destructor), Basal Rot (Fusarium culmorum) and Botrytis Rot (Botrytis porri). When it comes to disease control, the most effective tool is prevention, in the form of planting good quality garlic seed and rotating the plants in the garden.
The major pests of garlic are the garlic bloat nematode and, in Europe, the garlic fly (Suillia lurida). You can protect garlic plants against nematodes and fungal diseases by planting healthy garlic from proven sources and replanting in a different location each time. The most effective defense against garlic fly is dense, garden-quality insect netting. Cover the entire bed during April and May to prevent this pest from flying in and laying eggs in the garlic plants.
Garlic growing tips
• When growing hardneck garlic, its flower stalks need to be removed (pinched by hand) while they are still young and bent downwards. By pinching off the flower stalks, all the plant's energy will be channeled into the growth of the cloves, which will then be much larger.
• Harvested young flower stalks have a delicious, mild garlicky flavor and are excellent as a side dish, with meat or other meals.
• Garlic does not need to be watered in most cases, except during a long-lasting drought.
