In fall, break a bulb of seed garlic into cloves and plant the biggest ones pointed end up, with the base about 2 inches deep and the cloves 4 to 6 inches apart, in loose, well-drained soil. Water them in and cover the bed with about 4 inches of straw. In spring, feed the plants as they come up, and in summer dig the bulbs when about half the leaves have browned.
When to plant
In fall, a few weeks before the ground freezes: about mid-October in zones 4 to 6, later in warmer zones. The dates for each zone are in when to plant garlic.
How to plant garlic, step by step
- Get seed garlic suited to your climate. The University of Minnesota advises against grocery-store garlic and recommends varieties adapted to cold climates; in Florida, UF/IFAS recommends softnecks such as Artichoke or Creole.
- Prepare a sunny bed. Garlic needs deep, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter; heavy clay or compacted soil doesn’t suit it (University of Maryland). Maryland fertilizes before planting in fall.
- Split the bulb into cloves and plant the largest: large cloves grow larger bulbs (University of Maryland).
- Plant each clove pointed end up, flat base down, about 2 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart. The table below gives each source’s depth and spacing.
- Water them in and mulch. NC State’s Henderson County gardeners water, then cover the whole bed with 4 to 6 inches of straw or leaves; Ohio State uses 4 inches of clean straw, not hay, which carries weed seed.
How deep and how far apart to plant garlic
Most guides put the base of the clove about 2 inches below the surface. Colder places go deeper, warmer places shallower:
| Source | Zone | Depth | Apart |
|---|---|---|---|
| SDSU Extension | 4 | 4–6 in | 4–5 in |
| University of Minnesota | 3–5 | 2–3 in to the base | 6 in |
| Iowa State | 5 | 1 in | not given |
| Ohio State | 6 | 2 in | 4–5 in |
| University of Maryland | 7 | 1–2 in of soil over the clove | 3–6 in |
| NC State, Henderson County | 7 | 3 in | 6 in |
| NC State | 7–8 | 2–3 in | 6–8 in |
| UC Master Gardeners, Santa Clara | 9 | 1–2 in | 4–6 in |
Rows are spaced 18 to 24 inches apart at Ohio State, or in double rows on beds 30 inches apart at the University of Minnesota. Oregon State spaces cloves 4 inches apart.
Spring care and harvest
- Mulch: pull it back once hard freezes are over so the soil warms, or leave it to hold moisture and keep weeds down (University of Minnesota).
- Feed: the University of Minnesota top-dresses with nitrogen when the shoots come up and again two to three weeks later, but not after the first week of May, which can delay bulbing. Maryland fertilizes in April and, if needed, late May.
- Water less as harvest nears: Maryland waters less often to avoid disease; Santa Clara County gardeners stop watering in May, when the tops start to yellow.
- Cut the scapes on hardneck garlic: pinching off the flower stalk makes bigger bulbs, and the scapes cook like scallions (University of Maryland).
- Dig and cure: lift the plants when about half the leaves have browned, dry them with the tops on in an airy spot out of direct sun, and cut the tops after 7 to 14 days (University of Maryland).
How to grow garlic in a pot
Oregon State Extension grows garlic in containers at least 8 inches deep, with small drainage holes near the bottom, in a sunny spot, with cloves 4 inches apart. Plant at the same depth as in the ground, about 2 inches.
Over winter, water only if the potting mix dries out: UC Master Gardeners in Santa Clara County find garlic rarely needs extra water in a typical winter.
Questions people ask
How deep do you plant garlic?
About 2 inches to the base of the clove in most places: deeper in the coldest zones (SDSU plants 4 to 6 inches deep in South Dakota) and 1 to 2 inches in mild California (UC Master Gardeners).
How far apart do you plant garlic?
4 to 6 inches apart in the row, with rows 18 to 24 inches apart (Ohio State), or double rows 6 inches apart (University of Minnesota).
Which end of the garlic clove goes up?
The pointed tip goes up, the flat root end down.
Do you water garlic after planting?
Yes, water it in, then mulch (NC State, Henderson County). Over a typical winter it needs little extra water (UC Master Gardeners, Santa Clara County).
Can you plant garlic from the grocery store?
The University of Minnesota advises against it; buy seed garlic of a variety suited to your climate.
Sources
- University of Maryland Extension, Growing Garlic in a Home Garden (2023): deep, well-drained soil; large cloves; fertilize before planting, in April and late May; 1–2 in of soil, 3–6 in apart; less water near harvest; scapes; harvest and curing.
- University of Minnesota Extension, Growing garlic in home gardens: seed garlic for cold climates; base 2–3 in deep; double rows 6 in apart; mulch; nitrogen timing.
- Ohio State University, Growing Garlic in the Garden (HYG-1627): 2 in deep, 4–5 in apart, rows 18–24 in; 4 in of straw, not hay.
- NC State Extension, Garlic (Gardener Plant Toolbox): 2–3 in deep, 6–8 in apart. Henderson County Center, It’s Time for Garlic! (2025): 3 in deep, 6 in apart; water in; 4–6 in of straw or leaves.
- SDSU Extension, Planting Garlic: 4–6 in deep, 4–5 in apart. Iowa State, When should I plant garlic?: 1 in deep.
- UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, Garlic: 1–2 in deep, 4–6 in apart; little winter water; stop watering in May.
- Oregon State University Extension, Garlic (Fall) (2021): containers at least 8 in deep with drainage holes; cloves 4 in apart; full sun.
- UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Garlic: softneck varieties for Florida.