The Right Way to Prepare Garlic for Planting and Healthy Growth

Properly preparing garlic for planting can be the difference between harvesting robust, flavorful bulbs and experiencing the disappointment of stunted growth or diseased plants in your garden. Our best harvests come from proper preparation and planting. Here are our top tips on how to prepare garlic for planting to achieve a bountiful harvest.

How to Prepare Garlic for Planting

When preparing garlic for planting, selecting between hardneck varieties and softneck varieties is your first step. After breaking apart garlic bulbs, inspect each clove carefully. Discard any damaged ones, then soak them in a diluted seaweed extract or baking soda solution before planting garlic in optimized soil conditions with proper drainage and organic matter.

Do you want strong growth for your garlic and to achieve bigger harvests? These simple preparation techniques can help you grow healthy, flavorful bulbs right in your own garden.

Choosing the Best Garlic for Planting

Different garlic types can affect your harvest size, taste, and how well the garlic stores. Knowing the difference between key varieties helps you plant garlic that fits your climate and kitchen needs.

Selecting Garlic Varieties

Plant garlic from seed catalogs or garden centers instead of grocery store garlic. Bulbs sold for eating may carry disease or not grow well in your zone. 

Look for healthy, plump garlic heads with no mold, shriveling, or soft spots. Here are some of our favorites:

Understanding Hardneck and Softneck Garlic

There are two main types of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Hardneck garlic grows best in cooler climates and is known for having fewer, larger cloves. Softneck types produce more cloves per bulb and can be braided for storage.

Hardneck garlic, like Chesnok Red, Georgian Fire, and Elephant Garlic, often has a stronger, richer garlic taste. Best grown in zones 1-5 with cooler climates, these types need a winter chill to form large garlic bulbs. If you live somewhere with cold winters, you will usually get better results with hardneck varieties.

Softneck garlic, such as Organic Chet's Italian Red and Inchelium Red, can be grown in warmer climates (zones 8-12). It stores longer than hardneck and usually has a milder flavor. If you want garlic that lasts during winter, softneck is a great choice.

Preparing Garlic Cloves for Planting

Discover how we prepare our garlic cloves to encourage healthy plants and a good garlic harvest.

1. Breaking Apart Garlic Bulbs

Start by picking firm, healthy garlic heads. Hold each garlic head and remove the outer papery layers. Grip the bulb and pull it apart with your fingers to separate the cloves. 

Try not to break off the base of each clove, as the flat, bottom plate is where the roots will grow. The papery skin around each individual clove should be left on when possible. Only break apart bulbs right before planting to keep cloves from drying out.

2. Inspecting and Sorting Cloves

Look at the separated garlic cloves closely. Choose only the largest and healthiest cloves to plant. Remove any cloves that look soft, shriveled, moldy, or have signs of disease like purple blotch or black spots. 

Small or damaged cloves should be set aside for eating or composting. Healthy cloves should feel firm and have no green shoots showing. If you store garlic for a few days before planting, keep cloves in a cool, dry place with air circulation.

3. Soaking Garlic

Garlic soaking reduces the risk of fungal diseases and pests by encouraging root development. Prepare a mixture using either diluted seaweed extract or a baking soda solution (about one tablespoon of baking soda per quart of water).

Let the separated cloves soak for at least overnight. However, don't exceed 24 hours. After soaking, make sure to dry the cloves gently before planting.

Optimizing Soil and Site Conditions

Providing the right environment is vital for proper root development, nutrient uptake, and vigor of the garlic crop.

• Choose a location with full sun: Garlic does best with at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight. Raised beds work well because they keep the soil from getting soggy after heavy rain.
• Prepare a well-drained, loose soil: Before planting garlic, loosen the soil to at least eight inches deep. Mix in plenty of compost or aged manure to provide nutrients and help hold just enough moisture.
• Plan crop rotation: Avoid planting garlic in the soil where onions, garlic, or other related plants grew in the past one to two years to stop the build-up of soil diseases and pests. Rotate your crop with unrelated plants like beans, corn, or leafy greens.

Timing and Planting Garlic Successfully

Planting at the correct time and using proper techniques promotes successful bulb formation.

• Set proper spacing: Plant garlic cloves about four to six inches apart in each row. Rows need to be at least 12 inches apart to give each plant enough space for roots to spread.
• Plant at the correct depth: To help them survive temperature changes, plant each clove two inches deep, measured from the top of the clove. In colder climates, plant a little deeper, closer to three inches, to protect from freezing.
• Cover and mulch: Add a layer of mulch to insulate garlic during cold temperatures. Apply two to four inches of mulch over the planted area to keep weeds down during the growing season.

Related Questions

Is It Necessary to Prepare Garlic Before Planting?

Preparing garlic before planting improves germination rates and helps prevent diseases that could compromise your harvest. Proper preparation also includes separating cloves, inspecting for damage, and optional soaking treatments.

How to Encourage Healthy Growth and Maximize Garlic Yield?

Encouraging healthy garlic growth requires consistent moisture, regular weeding, and applying balanced organic fertilizer. Removing scapes from hardneck varieties and maintaining mulch coverage will redirect energy to bulb development, significantly maximizing your final garlic yield.

What Is the Best Month to Plant Garlic?

Garlic is best planted in the fall, typically between mid-September and November, encouraging root growth before winter dormancy. For most Northern Hemisphere regions, October is the optimal planting month, giving cloves enough time to develop roots before winter sets in.

Conclusion

Properly preparing garlic for planting rewards gardeners with robust plants, larger bulbs, and a noticeably improved harvest that brings satisfaction throughout the growing season. With our premium garlic bulbs, you can experience a productive start for your garlic growing journey and experience the difference that quality preparation makes in your garden's success.