Garlic
Hardneck Garlic, Softneck Garlic, Elephant Garlic, Artichoke Garlic, Silverskin Garlic
Plant individual cloves in fall (4–6 weeks before ground freezes) for summer harvest. Needs vernalization (cold period) to develop bulbs. Remove scapes on hardneck varieties in early summer to redirect energy to bulbs. Harvest when lower 1/3 of leaves have browned. Cure 3–4 weeks in a warm, airy location. Hardneck types more flavorful; softneck stores longer.
- Harvest after planting
- 240–270 days
- Spacing
- 15–20 cm
When to plant garlic
Plant 4–6 weeks before your first autumn frost.
Dashed line: typical first autumn frost in zone 7 (Nov 1). Zone dates are averages; most of the UK is zone 8–9, central Europe 6–7 and the Baltics and Scandinavia 4–6. In the app, Tomatograph uses your garden's own frost dates.
How to grow garlic
- 1
Plant in autumn
Plant single cloves 5 cm deep and 15 cm apart, pointed end up, 4–6 weeks before the ground freezes. Garlic needs a cold spell to form bulbs; spring planting gives smaller bulbs.
- 2
Overwinter
Mulch after planting in cold areas. Weed regularly in spring and water during dry spells.
- 3
Remove scapes
On hardneck varieties, cut off the curly flower stalks in early summer so the plant puts energy into the bulb. The scapes are edible.
- 4
Harvest and cure
Lift in summer when the lower third of the leaves has browned. Cure for 3–4 weeks somewhere warm and airy.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun
Water
Low water
Temperature
-20–30 °C
Frost tolerance
Frost-hardy — tolerates frost
Days to maturity
240 days
Plant spacing
10 cm
Ideal soil pH
7.5–8
How Tomatograph watches your garlic
Tomatograph checks your local forecast every morning and only speaks up when one of these applies to your garden.
- First frost within 14 daysReminder to mulch the roots before winter.
- 3 days at 35 °C or aboveHeat-wave alert while plants are flowering or fruiting: shade and water early.
- Humidity above 80% for 48 hoursCheck for white rot, which thrives in those conditions.
- Within a week of maturityHarvest-window reminder based on when you planted.
Garlic questions
- When should I plant garlic?
- Plant 4–6 weeks before your first autumn frost.
- How long until I can harvest garlic?
- About 240–270 days after planting out, depending on variety and weather.
- How far apart should I plant garlic?
- Allow 15–20 cm between plants.
- What grows well with garlic?
- Good neighbours include tomato, carrot, lettuce, beet.
Growing guide written by Tomatograph. Planting figures from openplantdb (CC0 1.0). Zone frost dates are averages from openplantdb (CC0 1.0).