growing garlic

Garlic Growing Basics & Seed Stock Quality

Your Guide to Growing Healthy, Productive Garlic:

Most garlic is grown by planting individual cloves in the fall. Each clove will grow into a full bulb by the following summer. Garlic can also be planted in early spring, especially in warmer climates; while spring-planted bulbs may be slightly smaller, they retain excellent flavor and often store longer than larger ones. Be aware that some years we do not offer spring garlic, it is best to order in the fall and vernalize if you plan on planting in the spring.

Why Certified Seed Garlic Matters

Using high-quality, disease-free seed garlic is critical for a healthy crop. Avoid supermarket garlic—it is often treated with chemicals like bleach, radiation, or growth inhibitors to prevent sprouting, and may have been stored in conditions that make it unsuitable for planting.

To ensure the best results, always choose seed garlic from a trusted farm. At Garlic Gods, all of our garlic is grown in an allium quarantine zone and certified white rot-free. White rot is a soil-borne disease that can destroy garlic crops and persist for decades—our annual inspections and certifications help protect your soil and harvest.

Learn more about white rot garlic disease and best practices in our blog, available on the Resources page of our website.

Planning Your Seed Garlic Order – A Guide for Garden Growers

When placing your seed garlic order, here are a few helpful tips to consider:

Whether you’re a home gardener, market grower, or community garden organizer, these planning tips will help you choose the right amount and varieties of seed garlic.

Yield Expectations: garlic typically yields 4 to 12 times the weight of garlic you plant, depending on the variety and growing conditions.
For culinary use, planting 1-5 pounds of seed garlic can provide enough garlic for a family of four for an entire year.
Storage Advice: Use shorter-storage varieties first; properly cured galric can last for months.

Typical Garlic Storage Life

Properly cured garlic can store well:

Hardneck varieties: 4–7 months
Softneck varieties: 6–12 months
Storage duration can vary depending on how well the garlic is cured and kept.

Garlic Seed Sizes & Ordering Details

At Garlic Gods, we offer our premium seed garlic in multiple pack sizes to fit your needs:

Available Sizes: ¼ lb, ½ lb, and 1 lb
Bulb Diameter: 1.75" to 3"
Bulbs per Pound: Typically 4–12, depending on variety and size
Largest bulbs are prioritized for early orders (first come, first served)

🧄Pro Tip: For the biggest harvest, plant the largest cloves. If you’re tight on space, reserve the biggest cloves for planting and use smaller ones in the kitchen. Freeze extra culinary cloves to prevent drying out.

Growing Conditions & Expectations

Garlic performance will vary based on your local environment, including:

Soil quality and drainage
Sunlight exposure
Watering practices
Regional climate and planting schedule

While we provide the best-quality seed stock, garlic growing success depends on your unique garden conditions.

Have questions? We're happy to help! Contact us anytime for guidance and support.

How to Store Garlic Seed Before Planting

Tips for Keeping Garlic Seed Fresh and Viable

Most growers receive their garlic seed well before planting time. Proper storage is essential to maintain freshness and ensure strong germination. Follow these proven garlic storage tips:

Store garlic seed in a cool, dry, and dark place with good ventilation. Ideal temperatures are between 50–60°F.
Use mesh bags or breathable containers — garlic needs airflow to stay healthy. Hanging the bags promotes even circulation.
Avoid plastic or sealed containers, which trap moisture and can lead to mold or rot.
Do not break garlic bulbs into cloves until you're ready to plant. Breaking them too early can cause the cloves to dry out or lose vigor.

🧄 Following these best practices ensures your seed garlic stays in top condition until planting time.

How to Prepare Soil for Garlic Planting

Garlic Soil Requirements for Healthy, High-Yield Bulbs

Preparing your soil properly is one of the most important steps to growing large, healthy garlic bulbs. Follow these garlic soil preparation tips to give your crop the best start:

Loosen the soil to a depth of at least 18 inches — deeper if your soil is heavy or clay-based. Garlic develops larger bulbs in well-aerated soil.
Enrich the soil with organic matter such as compost, aged manure, or leaf mold. Healthy, fertile soil provides essential nutrients and improves structure.
Choose a sunny location with full sun exposure and excellent drainage. Garlic thrives in well-drained soil and needs plenty of light for optimal growth.
Remove all weeds before planting. Garlic does not compete well with weeds, especially early in the growing season.
Avoid waterlogged soil. If your region experiences heavy rainfall, consider planting in raised beds or rows to promote drainage and prevent bulb rot.

🧄 Healthy soil = healthy garlic. Preparing your garden bed before planting is a key factor in garlic-growing success.

planting and spacing

Space rows 12–16 inches apart
Space cloves 6 inches apart in each row
Plant cloves 3 inches deep, root side down, pointed tip up

Should You Mulch Garlic?

Benefits, Tips, and Best Mulching Practices for Garlic Growers

Yes — mulching your garlic is highly recommended in most climates. Mulch helps regulate soil conditions, protects your crop through winter, and reduces maintenance throughout the growing season.

Benefits of Mulching Garlic:

Stabilizes soil temperature, especially during winter freezes and spring thaws
Retains soil moisture, reducing the need for frequent watering
Suppresses weeds, which compete with garlic for nutrients and sunlight
Improves soil health over time by adding organic matter as the mulch breaks down

Best Materials to Use as Garlic Mulch:

Use 2 to 6 inches of loose, breathable mulch. Ideal materials include:

Straw (most common and preferred)
Hay (weed-free only)
Grass clippings (dried)
Shredded leaves

Mulch Management by Season:

In cold climates, keep mulch in place through winter to insulate the bulbs.
In wet or warm climates, consider removing or thinning the mulch in early spring. Excess moisture and heat can lead to mold or rot in developing garlic bulbs.

🧄 Pro Tip: Avoid dense or compacted mulch that can trap too much moisture. Keep the layer light and fluffy to allow airflow.

Weeding Garlic Beds: Why It Matters and How to Do It Right

Keeping your garlic beds weed-free is essential for healthy growth and large bulbs. Weeds compete with garlic for nutrients, sunlight, and space, especially during the critical early stages of development.

Garlic Weeding Tips:

Remove weeds regularly throughout the growing season
Focus on eliminating deep-rooted or tall weeds that can block sunlight
Hand-pulling is effective and minimizes soil disturbance near garlic roots
Mulching with straw or organic matter helps suppress future weed growth

🧄 Healthy garlic needs full sun and breathing room — consistent weeding is key to strong yields.

How to Water Garlic for Optimal Growth and Storage

Proper watering is one of the most important factors in growing successful garlic. Too little water can stunt bulb development, while overwatering can lead to rot.

Best Practices for Watering Garlic:

Keep roots moist, especially during the active growth period
Water deeply so that moisture reaches the garlic's root zone
Avoid shallow, frequent watering — it encourages weak root growth
Do not overwater; soggy soil can lead to disease and bulb rot

Timing Your Watering Schedule:

Stop watering 10–14 days before harvest to allow bulbs to dry in the soil
Dry bulbs are easier to cure, store better, and have improved flavor retention

💧 Your garlic watering schedule will vary based on soil type, local rainfall, temperature, and garden design. Raised beds and sandy soil dry out faster than clay or compacted soil.

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