How to Grow & Harvest Garlic: The Complete Guide

Known for its high allicin content, along with antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal properties, garlic is simply formidable. More so, the process of growing garlic is surprisingly straightforward, thriving on what can be described as benign neglect. This ease of cultivation, coupled with the superior taste of home-grown garlic, makes it an appealing endeavour for any aspiring gardener—or hobby-cook. Let’s learn how to grow garlic!

Choosing the right garlic variety

Choosing the proper garlic variety is the first step to successful cultivation, as different types respond differently to various climates and culinary needs.

Types of garlic

Most garlic belongs to one of two kinds, hardneck or softneck garlic. But there are also some special varieties like elephant garlic. It has no cultivars and is known for its giant, mild-flavoured bulbs, perfect for those preferring a subtler garlic taste.

Softneck garlic

Softneck garlic is the most common kind found in stores. This type of garlic can have up to 18 cloves per bulb. It features white, papery skin and is known for excellent storage capabilities, often lasting up to a year. Best grown in milder climates without severe winters unless provided with winter protection.

Hardneck garlic

More robust against cold, hardneck garlic is suitable for a broader range of UK climates. Also, it produces a flower stalk known as a scape, which should be removed to encourage larger bulb growth. The flavour is stronger compared to softneck garlic, which makes it ideal fo culinary uses like stir-fries and pesto from its scapes.

Choosing based on your needs

• Flavour preferences: If you prefer a mild flavour, softneck varieties like Silverskins may be ideal. For a more robust taste, consider hardneck types like Rocamboles.
• Storage needs: Softneck garlic generally stores longer due to its multiple layers of papery skin, making it suitable for long-term use.
• Growing conditions: Hardneck varieties are preferable in colder areas due to their resilience against harsh winters. In contrast, softneck types thrive in milder conditions.

Variety overview

Now that you know a bit more about what to look out for, here is an overview of the common types and their specific characteristics. Take your pick and grow some garlic!

Hardneck garlic types

• Rocambole – Known for its rich, complex flavour, Rocambole garlic has a loose skin which makes it easier to peel.
• Porcelain – Porcelain garlic types are known for their thick and durable skin, which makes them excellent for storing. They also have a robust and sometimes hot flavour.
• Purple Stripe – This type is named for the distinctive purple stripes on its skin. It’s often praised for its sweet flavour when roasted.
• Marbled Purple Stripe – A subtype of Purple Stripe, these have marbled, mottled skin and a strong, spicy flavour.
• Glazed Purple Stripe – Another subtype of Purple Stripe, with a glossy, glazed appearance and a milder flavour profile.
• Turban – Named for their turban-like tops, they tend to have a strong, warm taste and are one of the earliest to harvest among hardnecks.

Softneck garlic types

• Artichoke – Characterized by several layers of cloves arranged in a somewhat haphazard manner, Artichoke garlics have a milder taste and are quite common in supermarkets.
• Silverskin – These are among the best for braiding and long-term storage, and they have a strong, sharp taste.
• Creole – Known for its rich, deep flavour and good storage qualities in warm climates.
• Inchelium Red – An Artichoke garlic type with a mild, but full flavour; it has won taste contests for its exceptional flavour.
• California Early – It’s a very common commercial variety, known for its robust flavour and early harvest.
• California Late – Similar to California Early, but harvested later and has a somewhat longer shelf life.
• Mexican Purple – Despite the name, it’s a softneck variety that can develop a rich, spicy flavour, especially when grown in Mexican climates.

Purchasing seed garlic

To ensure healthy growth and disease prevention, always opt for certified, disease-free seed garlic. Avoid using garlic from supermarkets as it may not be suited for local growing conditions and could carry diseases. Many cloves you find in the supermarket are from China, just check the label. Those are often heavily doused in pesticide and even bleached. Best stay away from them, if you want to grow healthy, organic garlic.

Do you have a friend who already successfully started planting garlic from seeds? Then you can, of course, fork some off to start your own garlic farm at home. 

Finding the right spot for planting garlic

You can plant garlic indoors, outside or in a greenhouse. When you plant them inside the house, make sure to pick a well-ventilated room. After all, garlic does smell like garlic and even though the odour is less pronounced in the growing garlic plants, you might create a smelly catastrophe if something goes wrong. Also, the smell might depend on the variety. 

Furthermore, garlic needs the winter cold to vernalize. So even if you cultivate it indoors, leave it outside or in the fridge during the winter.

Preparing the soil and planting

When preparing to plant garlic, the choice of location and soil preparation are crucial. Opt for a warm, sunny spot, as garlic thrives in full sunlight. The soil should be fertile and well-drained. This is particularly important as garlic does not perform well in overly wet conditions. Begin by removing any weeds, which compete with garlic for nutrients and water.

Soil enrichment

Incorporate organic matter into the soil, to enhance the soil’s structure, moisture retention, and nutrient levels. Apply two bucketfuls of well-rotted manure or garden compost per square metre, which will provide the necessary nutrients to grow garlic. Additionally, consider adding a high potassium general fertiliser at one handful per square metre to encourage robust development.

The best planting techniques

Ideally plant your garlic in autumn, four to six weeks before the ground freezes, to allow the roots to establish before winter dormancy. Plant cloves 6 inches apart, positioning them with the pointy end up and the base 1-inch below the soil surface. This depth helps protect the cloves while ensuring adequate exposure to the cold required for bulb development.

Protecting and supporting growth

After planting, cover the area with horticultural fleece to prevent birds from disturbing the cloves. For gardens prone to heavy weed growth, consider using a weed-suppressing membrane with slits for the garlic. Like this, you’re reducing the need for frequent weeding. This setup protects the young plants and maintains cleaner growing conditions.

Precautions against common issues with garlic

In regions with heavy, damp soils, starting garlic in modules within a cold frame before the spring planting can be advantageous. This method prevents the cloves from rotting in excessively wet winter soil. Always ensure that the soil is not compacted around the cloves, as garlic prefers loose, well-draining conditions to develop properly.

Grow garlic & care for your plants

Garlic’s natural properties make it a fantastic companion for various plants in your garden. When planted alongside tomatoes, peppers, carrots, and cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and kale, garlic helps deter common pests. This includes aphids, Japanese beetles, and spider mites. As you can see, garlic is a natural pest control, that reduces your reliance on chemical pesticides and promotes a healthier, more biodiverse garden environment. Not to mention, it’s super tasty. 

Essential watering and weeding practices

Garlic, like many other plants, requires consistent care to thrive. Watering and weeding are especially important. 

Watering

Ensure garlic receives about 1 inch of water per week, combining rainfall and additional irrigation. This is particularly crucial when the leaves are forming and during dry spells. As the foliage begins to yellow in early summer, reduce watering to prevent over-saturation, which could harm the bulbs.

Weeding

Keep the area around garlic plants free from weeds. Weeds compete for water and nutrients, which can stifle garlic growth. Mulching with a 2-inch layer or regular weeding will help maintain the necessary nutrients and moisture levels in the soil.

Grow garlic and manage scapes

Garlic scapes, which appear on hardneck garlic varieties, are edible and offer a milder flavour compared to garlic cloves. They usually start appearing around 8 months after planting. Snip scapes in late spring or early summer when they begin to curl. This action redirects the plant’s energy from the scape to the bulb, promoting larger bulb growth. Utilize scapes in your cooking for a subtle garlic flavour. They can be chopped and added to dishes such as stir-fries and pestos, or preserved by blanching and freezing for later use.

Pest and disease control

When growing food, you will want to avoid using potentially harmful chemicals that wind up in your own belly. So for pest and disease control, it’s best to rely on physical barriers and natural remedies. 

Cover young plants with horticultural fleece to prevent birds and small mammals from disturbing them. Additionally, employing a weed-suppressing membrane can reduce the need for frequent weeding.
Nutritional Supplements

Feed for growing garlic

The optimal fertiliser for garlic should have a balanced N-P-K ratio, with a slightly higher amount of phosphorus for root development. Before planting, incorporating well-rotted manure or compost into the soil can provide a slow-release nutrient source for the garlic.

As the garlic begins to form bulbs, a side dressing of a high-nitrogen fertiliser can encourage strong leaf growth, which is vital for bulb development. Avoiding high-nitrogen fertilisers close to harvest time is crucial, as this can deter bulb growth.

Once garlic has significant foliage, feeding it with liquid worm juice or seaweed fertiliser can provide a boost, helping in the development of robust garlic bulbs.

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Typical challenges when you grow garlic at home

One common challenge you may face when growing garlic at home is not planting according to your specific climate. Garlic plants require a cold period to thrive, which can pose difficulties in frost-free climates. If you’re gardening in an area with mild winters, like Wales or the West of England, you might need to take extra steps to ensure a successful garlic harvest. An ideal winter for garlic would have temperatures that dip below freezing, but generally stay above -6 °C. Here are some strategies to help you overcome this challenge.

Adapting garlic cultivation to mild winters

• Choose suitable varieties: Opt for garlic varieties that are known to perform well in warmer climates, like creole or turban garlic. These types often have a shorter chilling requirement.
• Refrigeration before planting: Mimic the garlic’s needed cold exposure by refrigerating the cloves for several weeks before planting. This process is called vernalization.
• Strategic planting time: Plant your garlic in the late winter or early spring instead of fall, which allows the plant to experience cooler temperatures during its crucial initial growth phase.
• Mulching for temperature control: Apply a thick layer of mulch to help regulate soil temperature and moisture. Mulch acts as an insulator, keeping the soil cooler during unexpectedly warm spells.

Harvesting and curing garlic

Now that you know how to grow garlic, it’s time to focus on the harvest. Pick the right time to gather the bulbs. Let your eyes and your nose be your guide! 

Timing your harvest

Start checking your garlic plants from July onwards. The ideal time to harvest is when approximately 40% to 60% of the top growth has died back and turned yellow or brown. This indicates that the bulb development has ceased, and the garlic is ready to be pulled out.

Careful digging

Use a digging fork to loosen the soil around the garlic. Insert the tines of the fork a few inches away from the garlic stems to avoid damaging the bulbs. Gently lift the garlic from the soil, ensuring you keep the stems intact.Initial cleaning: Shake off any loose soil from the bulbs and remove any large clumps. Be gentle to avoid bruising the garlic, which can affect its storage life.

Curing your garlic

Storing cured garlic

Proper storage is important to maintaining the quality of your garlic. When done right, you can store your garlic for up to a year. 

• Choosing the right container: Store garlic in breathable containers such as mesh bags, paper bags, or even old pantyhose. These allow for air circulation, which is vital to prevent mould and decay.
• Ideal conditions: Keep your stored garlic in a cool, dark place. The optimal storage temperature is between 10°C to 15°C with around 60% humidity. Avoid areas with high heat or direct sunlight.
• Regular checks: Periodically check your stored garlic for any signs of spoilage, such as mould or softness. Remove any compromised bulbs to prevent the spread of decay to healthy ones.

Using your home-grown garlic

Once your garlic has been harvested and cured, storing it properly is essential to maintain its freshness and flavour. Garlic is incredibly versatile in the kitchen, whether used fresh, dried, or powdered. Here are some tips for using your stored garlic.

Fresh garlic

Use freshly cured garlic directly in your cooking for robust flavour. Fresh garlic is particularly great in dishes where its bold flavour can stand out, such as in sauces and marinades.

Making garlic powder

Slice peeled cloves thinly and dry them in a food dehydrator or an oven set to a low temperature. Once completely dry, grind the slices in a spice grinder until you achieve a fine powder. Store the garlic powder in an airtight container in a dark, dry place to maintain its potency.

Freezing garlic

• Whole bulbs: Freeze whole cured bulbs in airtight bags or containers.
• Individual cloves: Peel and freeze individual cloves on a tray before transferring them to a container, allowing you to use a clove or two at a time.
• Chopped garlic: Chop garlic and freeze it in teaspoon-sized portions, perfect for adding directly to the pan in future recipes.

How to grow garlic FAQs

Ready to grow garlic?

Now you should have all the information you need to grow garlic. If you still have more questions you can leave a comment. Or maybe you would like to tell us about your recent success in the garden? In case you are just starting your own vegetable garden, we have a guide about creating a vegetable garden, vertical vegetable farming and one on herbs and spices, too.

Happy gardening!

Louis Hooft

Founder & Lawn expert

Introducing Louis Hooft, the founder of MOOWY and your reliable expert. With a profound love for stunning lawns and extensive experience in garden maintenance, Louis is here to assist garden enthusiasts in achieving a greener and livelier outdoors than ever before. Count on Louis for invaluable tips, clever tricks, and top-notch products to make your garden flourish!