Planting and care
How to grow garlic
When to grow
Cool season · Annual
How to start
Seed, sets, transplants or cloves
Mature size
Upright foliage 8–24 in
Time to harvest
Usually about 7–9 months from fall planting to bulb harvest, often late May–July.
Feeding needs
Moderate feeder
Growth habit
Allium
How to prune
Leave healthy leaves intact. If growing hardneck garlic, clip curling scapes once they form a loop; softneck types generally do not produce scapes.
How to harvest
Loosen and lift a test bulb when lower leaves brown but several upper leaves remain green. Lift rather than pull; cure whole plants in a shaded, dry, ventilated space for 2–4 weeks.
Harvest and kitchen use
Cooking, seasoning, fresh garnish and storage depending type
Nutrition and garden value
Vitamin C and sulfur-containing compounds
Narrow upright growth makes good use of bed edges and gaps
Common challenges and troubleshooting
Thrips, bulb rot and poor drainage