How to Grow Garlic at Home: Your Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

Discover how to grow garlic at home with this simple, step-by-step guide! Perfect for beginners, covering some planting tips, care tricks, and harvesting for a tasty garlic haul.

Hey there, garlic lovers! If you’ve ever wanted to be able to grow your own garlic, plump, flavorful, straight from your backyard, you are in for a treat. It is the easiest thing to grow, and such a rewarding and valuable thing to grow if you are a beginner. And there’s nothing like the taste of homegrown garlic in your favourite recipes! In this blog, we will share what you need to know to grow garlic at home, from selecting the best bulbs to harvesting a bumper crop. Let’s get digging!

Why Bother Growing Garlic?

Fair enough, but why bother with garlic when you can grab a bulb at the store? First, you’ve never tasted anything as delicious as homegrown garlic — plump, intense, in-your-face flavours to which store-bought garlic doesn’t even come close. Second, it’s incredibly budget-friendly. You could get a dozen more from one bulb! And, it’s low-maintenance, great for small spaces, such as patios or tiny backyards, and you can go organic without it costing a fortune. Ready to give it a go? Let’s start with the basics.

Picking the Right Garlic Variety

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There are basically two varieties of garlic: softneck and hardneck. Softnecks, such as ‘Silverskin,’ are ideal for warm climes and store for months. Hardnecks, like ‘Purple Stripe,’ adore a frigid winter and provide you with those neat curly scapes (more on those in a minute). It’s better to go by climate (look up your USDA zone!) and preferred flavour profile — hardnecks are usually spicier, while softnecks are milder. Head to your local nursery or online seed company for top-notch bulbs.

When and Where to Plant Your Garlic (Garlic planting tips)

Best Time to Plant Garlic

There’s a timing to garlic. In most locales, fall is really the golden window — think September to November. Planting in the fall allows the cloves to put down roots before winter, resulting in bigger bulbs come summer. If you live in a super hot area, early spring is great, but fall is best for most. 6-8 weeks before your first frost.

Finding the Perfect Spot

Garlic is a sun hog, so select a location with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. It also loathes wet feet, so well-drained conditions are a must. Got clay-heavy soil? For raised beds or containers, try. Pro tip? You can grow garlic in pots on my counter, on a balcony, in the front yard, and it is like magic! The only requirements are a weed-free environment and decent air flow.

Your Garlic Planting Guide

Image on Pexels by Min An: 

Now comes the fun part— Follow these steps, and you’ll be a garlic guru in no time.

Step 1: Get Good Garlic Bulbs

Begin with good-quality bulbs — don’t use supermarket garlic, which is frequently treated to prevent sprouting. Every bulb has a number of cloves, and each clove becomes a new bulb. Choose fat, firm cloves from a nursery or seed outlet. Some people learn this the hard way. Therefore, do NOT skimp here. The larger the cloves, the larger the bulbs at harvest.

Step 2: Garlic Soil Preparation 

Garlic prefers fertile, well-drained ground with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Test your soil (cheap kits are available at garden centres) and add in compost or well-rotted manure to supply nutrients. Go down, say, 8 or 12 inches to loosen things up and remove rocks — and the weeds, too. Avoid fresh manure — it can burn your clothes. Believe us or not, sharing this from experience!

Step 3: Plant Those Cloves

Split your bulb into cloves, leaving them in their papery skins. Place each clove in the ground pointy-side up and about 2 inches deep, 4-6 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. Add soil back on top, patting it down lightly. If you’re employing a pot, choose one that is at least 8 inches deep with drainage holes. People like to plant in neat rows to make sure their plants are organised — it’s oddly satisfying, they say.

Step 4: Water and Mulch

After you plant, give your cloves a nice drink to help them get accustomed to their new home. Then top with a 3-4 inch layer of mulch (straw, leaves, grass clippings). Mulch keeps the soil warm, retains moisture and stops weeds from barging in on the party. Water every few days, aiming to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged — think “damp sponge,” not “swamp.”

Step 5: Care for Your Growing Garlic

Garlic is pretty low maintenance once it’s in the ground. Water every 3-5 days throughout spring growth, easing in winter. In the spring, when green shoots come up, feed them with an organic fertiliser (10-10-10 mix looks good). If you’re planting hardnecks, snip the kinky scapes off when they emerge — they’re edible and tasty in a stir-fry! Clear away any weeds so your garlic can get all the nutrients.

Step 6: Harvest Time!

Photo by Rachel Claire

Your garlic is ready when the bottom leaves have yellowed and withered completely, typically about 6 to 9 months after planting (i.e., late spring to early summer). Use a garden fork to lift the bulbs gently — don’t yank them up! Rinse off dirt and cure them in a cool, dry, ventilated place for 2 to 4 weeks so the skins are papery. If you hang them in the garage, it will literally look like a little farmer’s market.

Troubleshooting Garlic issues

There can be drama in garlic, too. Here’s how to manage some common problems:

• Yellow Leaves Too Soon: Overwatering or nutrient issues. Inspect the drainage and add a nitrogen fertiliser.
• Tiny Bulbs: May have been planted in poor soil, spaced too close or planted late. Prepare the soil well and space the cloves correctly.
• Pests: You may encounter onion maggots or thrips. Block them with row covers or organic sprays.
• Fungus: Wet soil can cause white rot or rust. Ensure good drainage and rotate crops each year.

Storing Garlic

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Once cured, trim the roots and cut stems to about an inch. Store your garlic in a cool (50-60°F), dry spot in a mesh bag or basket—don’t refrigerate, or it’ll sprout! This way, they can last 6-12 months. Use your harvest in everything from garlic bread to roasted garlic spread. Pro tip: save your biggest cloves for replanting next season!

Your Garlic Adventure Awaits!

Growing garlic at home is such a fun, rewarding venture. With a bit of prep and care, you’ll have a stash of homegrown bulbs to spice up your meals. So grab some cloves, get your hands dirty, and enjoy the magic of growing your own food. What’s your favourite way to use garlic? Drop a comment below—we’d love to hear! 

Happy planting!