Vegetable · Allium
Garlic
Allium sativumOne of the lowest-maintenance crops in the garden: tuck cloves into the ground and let winter do the work of triggering bulb formation. Hardneck types bring bonus curly scapes in late spring, softnecks store the longest. The one rule: plant good stock, not shop-bought bulbs, to avoid disease.
Sow depth
2 in
Spacing
6 in · rows 10 in
Sun
Full sun
Germination
14–21 days to shoots
Time to harvest
240–270 days
Difficulty
Easy
When to sow garlic
- Sow from about 6 weeks before the first expected autumn frost until about 2 weeks before the first expected autumn frost.
Plant cloves pointy-up — separate a bulb into cloves just before planting.Push each clove into loosened, well-drained soil at planting depth.Space generously; crowded rows give small, undersized bulbs later.
Weed relentlessly — garlic's narrow leaves compete poorly with weeds.Snip off curling hardneck scapes to redirect energy into the bulb.Stop watering a couple of weeks before harvest to help bulbs cure.
Watch the leaves — lift bulbs once the lower third has browned.Ease bulbs out with a fork rather than pulling by the stem.Cure in a warm, airy, shaded spot for two to three weeks before storing.
Companion plants
Garlic's sulphur compounds help repel aphids and root maggots from nearby carrots and roses.
Watch out for
White rot — A soil-borne fungus that persists for years once introduced. Buy certified disease-free stock and never plant in infected ground.