How to Plant Garlic This Fall for a Big Summer Harvest

Get your garden ready for big garlic heads by planting cloves in the fall. This guide covers timing, spacing, and care to help you pull healthy bulbs come summer. People who grow garlic swear by fall planting to let roots establish before the cold sets in.

What you need

• Healthy garlic bulbs with intact papery wrappers
• Compost
• Mulch (straw, hay, leaves, or grass clippings)

Steps

1. Plant 4 to 6 weeks before the first expected frost, or 2 to 3 weeks after the average first frost date. Sources vary on the best timing; some recommend planting before the ground freezes to maximize root growth, while others suggest waiting until after the average frost to avoid early sprouting. Choose the window that fits your local climate.
2. Work compost into well-drained soil. Separate bulbs carefully, keeping the tight papery wrapper intact. Skip grocery store garlic; these are often treated to stop sprouting and usually won't grow well.
3. Place cloves with the pointed end facing up. In mild climates, plant 1 to 2 inches deep; in colder areas, go 3 inches deep to protect against frost heaving. Space cloves 4 to 6 inches apart, with rows 12 to 18 inches apart.
4. Water the bed thoroughly after planting. Cover with a 5 to 8 inch layer of mulch. This thick layer insulates the soil, holds moisture, and suppresses weeds.
5. Apply a light fertilizer in early spring. Water regularly during the bulb-forming stage in June. Stop watering 2 to 3 weeks before harvest to help bulbs store better.
6. Pull bulbs in mid-July to early August when one-third to one-half of the leaves turn brown. Dry the bulbs in a cool, well-ventilated place for 2 to 4 weeks depending on humidity.

Why it works

Why fall planting works

Planting in the fall gives cloves time to develop a strong root system without sending up green shoots that could be damaged by frost.

Protection from winter

Adjusting planting depth based on climate and adding a heavy mulch layer shields cloves from freezing winds, temperature swings, and frost heaving.

Related on Gardeners Bible: How to Plant Fruit Trees in Fall, Plant Fall Bulbs for Spring Color, Plant Cold-Hardy Fall Crops by Region, How to Plant Spring Bulbs for a Full Season of Color.

If it goes wrong

Cloves planted upside down

Always plant with the pointed end up; planting upside down can hinder growth and result in smaller bulbs.

Bulbs with loose wrappers or soft spots

Discard damaged bulbs to prevent disease from spreading in your garden.