Beginners Guide to Growing Garlic

Charlotte Weidner | February 14, 2026

Edible members of the Amaryllis family (Allium sativum), Garlic is an easy-to-grow and space-saving Vegetable Garden and Kitchen Garden member that is a pungent, healthful, and long-storing addition to your life!

Early Romans used Garlic as a spice and food, the Greeks offered Garlic bulbs as gifts to the gods, and Hippocrates used garlic to treat parasites, as a laxative, and as a diuretic. Widely used medicinally for its antibiotic and antiviral properties, Garlic was used to treat colds, fever, and diarrhea, saved hundreds of lives from the plague, and protected people from cholera, typhoid fever, and diphtheria.

Today, Garlic has shown it may lower cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure, keep arteries flexible, and prevent blood clots and plaque buildup, reducing the risk of stroke.

Plus Garlic is a must-have for repelling vampires if that’s a problem in your area!

Check out how easy it is to grow your own flavorful Garlic harvest!

Planting Garlic Cloves

Much of the grocery store Garlic is grown in China and it has been treated to prevent sprouting. This means store-bought Garlic will not readily grow in your garden, so you won’t have much success.

Nature Hills offers quality Garlic Bulbs that have not been treated to prevent sprouting. In most areas, Garlic is planted in fall where it makes roots and then goes dormant. Once spring arrives, it will sprout very early and produce nice bulbs by harvest time in the summer.

In cooler climates, Garlic can be planted in the fall and harvested in early summer when the tops turn yellow. However, in warmer climates Garlic can be planted in the early spring. Plant these bulbs outdoors about six to eight weeks before the ground freezes in the fall if you are in a cooler growing zone, or the early spring if you are in a hot climate.

Garlic grows in a range of climates and soil types and it can be argued that the flavor and quality of your Garlic variety is determined by location, soil, and climate.

For best results, plant in full sun for the fastest growth and strongest stems, in a rich, well-drained soil location.

When planting Garlic, divide the dormant bulbs into separate cloves (called bulbils) and plant individually, root side down and pointed side up, with a small portion of the bulb poking above the soil, root side down. Space cloves 2 to 4 inches apart in rows 6 inches apart and cover with an inch or two of soil.

Provide moderate to low moisture as needed throughout the growing season with a layer of mulch or compost over the soil surface.

Types of Garlic

There are 11 distinct Garlic groups and two main categories - Hardneck and Softneck. Then there is Elephant Garlic, which is actually a kind of Leek.

Hardneck Garlic

Hardneck Garlic has a robust flavor and a central hard stalk that runs from roots to shoots and flowers. The large and easier-to-peel cloves are arranged around this stalk.

Hardneck is also best for colder climates and includes:

Porcelain - Like Musik Porcelain Garlic
Rocambole - Like Spanish Roja Hardneck Garlic
Purple Stripe/Glazed Purple Stripe/Marble Purple Stripe - Like Duganski Purple Stripe
Asiatic - Like Violet Spring Garlic
Turban - Like Chinese Pink Garlic
Creole - Like Purple Creole Garlic

Hardneck Garlic also produces scapes - the tender, curled stem and flower bud that can be harvested and used as mild Garlicky greens in cooking.

Softneck Garlic

Softneck Garlic is the typical type you’d see in the grocery store and usually has a milder flavor but a longer shelf life. Softneck Garlic is also best for warmer climates. Typically, the cloves are smaller than hardneck cloves.

Softneck varieties include

Silverskin - Like Silver Rose Garlic
Artichoke - Like Italian Late Garlic
Middle Eastern

Enjoying and Harvesting Garlic

Garlic should be planted in the fall and harvested in early summer when the tops turn yellow or when the tops start to dry. Clean, and store in a cool, dry location with plenty of air circulation.

Get ready to learn how to braid Garlic and create unique gifts and kitchen decorations.

Happy Planting!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you plant garlic cloves correctly for the best results?

To plant garlic correctly, separate the bulb into individual cloves and place each one root side down and pointed side up, with the tip just barely poking above the soil surface. Space cloves 2 to 4 inches apart in rows 6 inches apart, then cover with 1 to 2 inches of soil. Choose a full sun location with rich, well-drained soil for the strongest growth and best flavor. For most climates, fall planting 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes gives roots time to establish before winter, while gardeners in warmer regions should plant in early spring instead.

How long does it take garlic to grow from clove to harvest?

Garlic planted in fall typically takes 8 to 9 months to reach harvest, with cloves going in the ground 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes and bulbs ready to pull by early to midsummer when the tops begin turning yellow. In warmer climates where spring planting is preferred, the growing window is shorter, usually 90 days or so depending on variety and conditions. Watch for the lower leaves to yellow and die back, which signals it is time to harvest. For the best-quality bulbs, stop watering about two weeks before you expect to harvest and cure the pulled bulbs in a warm, dry, well-ventilated spot for several weeks.

Is garlic easy to grow for beginners?

Yes, garlic is one of the easiest vegetables a beginner can grow, requiring minimal space and producing a long-storing, flavorful harvest. In cooler climates, simply plant individual cloves root-side down about 1 to 2 inches deep and 2 to 4 inches apart in fall, roughly six to eight weeks before the ground freezes, and the bulbs will be ready to harvest the following summer. In warmer climates, early spring planting works just as well. Choose quality, untreated seed garlic like the bulbs available at Nature Hills, select a full-sun spot with rich, well-drained soil, and you are well on your way to a successful first harvest.

How do you grow garlic in a raised bed?

Growing garlic in a raised bed is an excellent choice since the loose, well-drained soil that raised beds provide is ideal for bulb development. Break your bulbs into individual cloves and plant them root side down, pointed side up, about 1 to 2 inches deep, spacing cloves 2 to 4 inches apart in rows 6 inches apart. In cooler climates, plant six to eight weeks before the ground freezes in fall for a summer harvest, or in early spring if you are in a warmer zone. Make sure your raised bed gets full sun and top it with a layer of mulch to retain moisture and protect the cloves through winter.

What should you plant alongside garlic in a raised bed?

Garlic is a great companion plant and pairs well with roses, tomatoes, peppers, and most vegetables since its natural sulfur compounds help deter aphids, spider mites, and other common pests. Avoid planting garlic near beans, peas, or other legumes, as garlic can inhibit their growth. In a raised bed, space your garlic cloves 2 to 4 inches apart in rows 6 inches apart, leaving room for neighboring plants to thrive. Plan your raised bed layout before planting in fall so companion plants can be strategically placed come spring.

How do you use garlic greens before the bulbs are ready to harvest?

Garlic greens, also called garlic scapes on hardneck varieties, can be harvested and used just like green onions or chives well before the bulbs mature in summer. Snip the young green shoots when they reach 4 to 6 inches tall and chop them into salads, stir-fries, pestos, or use them as a garnish for a mild, fresh garlic flavor. On hardneck varieties, removing the curling scape in late spring also encourages the plant to put more energy into bulb development. Harvest scapes when they have made one loose curl but before they straighten out completely for the best tender texture and flavor.

Can you grow garlic indoors or in containers?

Yes, garlic can be grown successfully in containers, making it a great option for gardeners with limited outdoor space. Choose a pot at least 8 inches deep with good drainage, fill it with rich, well-draining potting mix, and plant individual cloves 2 to 4 inches apart with the pointed end up. Container garlic grown indoors will produce usable greens fairly quickly, though bulb development requires adequate light and cooler temperatures to trigger proper growth. For the best bulb harvest, place containers outdoors in full sun or in a bright south-facing window, and source untreated seed garlic from a reputable supplier like Nature Hills rather than grocery store bulbs.

How deep should you plant garlic cloves?

Plant garlic cloves with just the tip poking slightly above the soil surface, then cover with 1 to 2 inches of soil. Space cloves 2 to 4 inches apart within rows that are 6 inches apart. Always plant root side down with the pointed end facing up for proper development. This simple spacing and depth formula gives each clove the room and positioning it needs to develop into a full, healthy bulb by harvest time.

How do you care for garlic plants through winter?

In most cooler climates, garlic is planted in fall about six to eight weeks before the ground freezes, where it establishes roots and then goes dormant through winter without any special intervention. Once planted with cloves spaced 2 to 4 inches apart and covered with an inch or two of soil, apply a layer of mulch over the bed to insulate the soil, regulate temperature fluctuations, and protect the developing roots. Come spring, your garlic will sprout early and be ready for harvest by summer when the tops turn yellow.

Why should you remove garlic scapes and how do you do it?

Garlic scapes are the curling flower stalks that hardneck garlic varieties send up in late spring or early summer, and removing them redirects the plant's energy from seed production into growing larger, more flavorful bulbs. Left on the plant, scapes will cause the bulbs to remain small and less developed. Simply snap or cut the scape off at its base once it has made one full curl, which is the ideal time before it straightens and begins to flower. As a bonus, scapes are delicious in their own right, so toss them in a stir-fry, blend them into pesto, or use them anywhere you would use garlic.