Garlic is a popular vegetable crop that most gardeners plant in the fall. However, if you missed the fall planting window, you may be wondering – can you start garlic in the spring and still get a good harvest? The answer is yes! With some planning and care, spring-planted garlic can produce nice bulbs for harvest later in the summer.
Why Fall is Considered Best for Planting Garlic
Fall is widely regarded as the ideal planting time for garlic for a few key reasons
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Garlic cloves require a period of cold temperatures after planting to properly vernalize. Vernalization is the process where exposure to cold induces the biochemical changes needed for the plant to grow correctly in the spring. The natural winter cold provides the perfect vernalizing conditions.
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Planting in fall allows time for the garlic to establish roots before growth takes off in spring.
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Fall-planted garlic gets a head start on growth as soon as soil temperatures increase in spring
So in short, planting in fall takes advantage of natural winter chilling to vernalize the cloves, lets them establish roots, and gives them an early kickstart on rapid spring growth
The Case for Spring Planting of Garlic
While fall planting is preferred, situations may arise where you need to plant garlic in the spring instead:
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You may have missed the fall planting window and still want garlic this season.
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Your garlic shipment arrived too late for fall planting.
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You did not get enough cloves planted last fall and want to add more plants.
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You live in a climate with very cold winters and spring planting is less risky.
The main considerations with spring planting are vernalizing the cloves and getting them in the ground as early as possible. But it certainly can be done!
Spring Planting Tips for Success with Garlic
Here are some tips to help ensure success when planting garlic in the spring:
Choose the Right Garlic Variety
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Hardneck garlic – Best suited for spring planting in colder climates. Give the cloves 4-8 weeks of cold treatment (vernalization) before planting.
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Softneck garlic – Does well with spring planting in warmer regions. Give cloves 2-4 weeks of cold before planting.
Vernalize Garlic Cloves Before Planting
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Keep cloves in refrigerator for recommended time based on variety.
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Check often for sprouting or mold. Plant immediately if sprouting begins.
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Or plant very early in spring to allow natural cold exposure.
Obtain High-Quality Seed Stock
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Order from reputable suppliers who offer spring shipment options.
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Avoid garlic from the grocery store – it may be treated to prevent sprouting.
Prepare Planting Area in Fall if Possible
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Amend soil with compost and other organic matter.
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Having planting area ready makes early spring planting easier.
Plant Garlic as Early as Possible
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Take advantage of thaws or early spring warm spells.
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The earlier the cloves go in the ground, the more growing time they will have.
Space Cloves 4-6 Inches Apart
- Adequate spacing prevents crowding and allows good bulb development.
Plant Cloves 2-3 Inches Deep
- Shallow planting risks freeze damage to sprouting cloves.
Water Immediately After Planting
- Ensures cloves have sufficient moisture to drive root establishment.
Use Row Covers if Needed
- Protect newly-planted cloves from freezing temperatures if necessary.
Mulch After Planting
- 2-3 inches of mulch helps retain moisture and suppresses weeds.
Fertilize Regularly After Sprouting
- Garlic is a heavy feeder. Use a balanced organic fertilize every 2-3 weeks.
Weed Regularly
- Weeds will compete for water and nutrients, reducing yields.
Remove Flower Stalks (Scapes)
- Removing scapes redirects energy to bulb production.
Expected Differences in Spring-Planted Garlic
When planting garlic in the spring rather than fall, you can expect a few differences:
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Bulbs may be smaller – Fall-planted garlic gets a head start on growth and a longer period to mature. But spring-planted bulbs can still reach a nice usable size with proper care.
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Harvest is later – Spring garlic will need a few extra weeks to finish bulbing compared to fall plantings. Expect to harvest spring garlic in mid to late summer rather than early summer.
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Fewer big cloves – The bulbs of spring-planted garlic may contain some smaller interior cloves compared to fall plantings. But the large outer cloves still provide plenty of garlic flavor.
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Potentially lower yields – Due to the shorter growing period, spring plantings produce less overall than fall plantings in most cases. But you can still get a worthwhile harvest!
Tips for Harvesting and Curing Spring-Planted Garlic
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Harvest when about half the leaves have turned brown, similar to fall-planted garlic.
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Loosen soil with a garden fork and lift bulbs gently.
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Avoid pulling on foliage to prevent damage to bulbs.
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Cure bulbs in a dry, well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks.
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Once cured, trim roots and stems to 1⁄2 inch before storage.
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Store cured bulbs in mesh bags or open containers to allow air circulation.
While fall remains the best season for getting garlic planted, gardeners should not shy away from spring planting if needed. With proper variety selection, vernalization of cloves, attentive care, and harvest at the right time, you can achieve a successful crop of garlic planted in the spring. Pay close attention to planting early, providing fertilizer, and maintaining even soil moisture. Then you can enjoy homegrown garlic this season, even if you got a late start on planting.
Spring is coming! Get ready to plant spring garlic!
Although garlic is typically planted in the fall, we have garlic available for spring planting to harvest as bulbs or green garlic. Mother Nature plays a big part in whether spring planted garlic will bulb up. A cool spring is ideal, with a warm early summer, and some hot temperatures a few weeks before harvest. When conditions are good, they should bulb up nicely. If you find that Mother Nature is not cooperating, the bulbs may be small. Even if they are small, they are very tasty and will store for many months from a summer harvest.
Keene’s garlic for spring planting is certified organic and grown in the US. Cold-stratified following harvest. Our spring garlic is ready for planting upon arrival, although you can hold it in cool place until you are ready to plant. Once removed from the cold, your garlic will want to sprout & grow.
- Plant garlic as soon as the soil can be worked. You can plant into frozen ground and top with compost if necessary.
- For best results, use cold stratified bulbs, or bulbs held in cold storage ~40 degrees for at least 30-40 days. The spring garlic bulbs we offer have been cold stratified.
- Broadcast Keene Garlic’s Organic Garlic Fertilizer or an all-purpose fertilizer into the soil before planting. Garlic requires full sun & fertile soil.
- Optional: Just like with fall planted garlic, for spring planted garlic we recommend performing a garlic fertilization soak to jump start root growth. See our Garlic Fertilization Soak page for full instructions.
- Separate garlic cloves from the bulbs.
Separate Cloves from Bulb
- Plant 6” apart with root side facing down and the pointed end facing up. Cover with at least 1” of soil over the tip of the garlic. If space is limited, plant 4” apart. If you are growing for spring “green garlic”, plant individual cloves 1-2” apart. We tend to plant our biggest cloves to “bulb up” and the smaller cloves for “green garlic”.
- To plant our “Green Garlic Bulbs”, plant whole bulbs 3-4” apart.
Garlic Planted in 6 in. Grid
Plant Clove Pointy Side Up!
2. Broadcast Keene Garlic’s Organic Garlic Fertilizer or an all-purpose fertilizer over the top of the garlic and apply water or compost tea for moisture.
- Optional, yet recommended– Even in the spring, we apply about 4-6” of mulch like straw, grass clippings, chopped leaves or other good types of mulch that may be easy to obtain by region. Mulch will protect the garlic from temperature swings, retain moisture, and reduce weed pressure.
- Once the garlic sprouts, apply fertilizer every 10-14 days based on the application rate.
- Watch the moisture levels. The goal is about 1” of water per week, making sure the soil is damp, but not saturated. Springtime rain can often be enough, but supplement more water when needed.
- Keep garlic weeded as garlic does not compete well with weeds.
Spring Garlic Care – Weeding
★ How to Grow Garlic in the Spring (Quick & Easy Tip for all year round Gardening)
FAQ
What happens if I plant garlic in May?
Yes, you can plant garlic in the spring, especially in regions where a fall planting is not feasible due to harsh winter conditions. Spring planting can lead to a successful harvest, though the bulbs may be slightly smaller compared to fall-planted garlic.
Can you start garlic indoors?
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Choose a Container:
- Use a pot with drainage holes.
- A simple terra-cotta pot at least 6 inches deep is a good option.
- Ensure the pot is wide enough to accommodate the spacing between cloves (4-6 inches apart).
- Use a pot with drainage holes.
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Select the Right Variety:
- Softneck varieties: are generally preferred for indoor growing as they don’t require a chilling period like hardneck varieties.
- Hardneck varieties: need a chilling period to develop into mature bulbs.
- Softneck varieties: are generally preferred for indoor growing as they don’t require a chilling period like hardneck varieties.
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Planting:
- Plant the cloves pointy side up, about 1-2 inches deep.
- Space the cloves 4-6 inches apart.
- Use well-draining potting soil.
- Plant the cloves pointy side up, about 1-2 inches deep.
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Sunlight:
- Place the pot in a sunny location, ideally a south- or west-facing window, for at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
- If natural light is insufficient, consider using grow lights.
- Place the pot in a sunny location, ideally a south- or west-facing window, for at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
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Watering:
- Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy.
- Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
- Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy.
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Harvesting:
- Harvest the green shoots when they reach a few inches in length.
- Cut the shoots just above the soil line to encourage further growth.
- Harvest the green shoots when they reach a few inches in length.
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Fertilizing:
- Indoor garlic doesn’t typically require fertilization, as the cloves have enough stored nutrients to support the leaves.
- Indoor garlic doesn’t typically require fertilization, as the cloves have enough stored nutrients to support the leaves.
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Tips for Success:
- Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.
- Choose a location that is not too warm or dry.
- Consider using a mulch layer to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.
Can I plant store-bought garlic that has sprouted?
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Prepare the garlic:Break apart the garlic bulb into individual cloves, but don’t peel them. The papery skin protects the clove and helps prevent rot.
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Planting:
- Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil.
- Plant the cloves about 2-4 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart.
- Plant the cloves with the pointy end or sprout facing upwards.
- Cover the cloves with soil and gently press down to secure them.
- Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil.
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After planting:
- Water the soil thoroughly after planting.
- Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, while the shoots are growing.
- Mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Water the soil thoroughly after planting.
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Harvesting:You can harvest the garlic in late summer or early fall, depending on the variety and your local climate.
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Considerations:
- Many grocery store garlic bulbs are treated to prolong shelf life, which may make them less likely to grow successfully.
- If you are unsure whether the garlic has been treated, you may have better luck with garlic bulbs purchased from a nursery or seed supplier.
- You can also harvest the green garlic (tender stems) before the bulbs mature, which is a popular way to use sprouted garlic.
- Many grocery store garlic bulbs are treated to prolong shelf life, which may make them less likely to grow successfully.
What is the mistake when planting garlic?
Biggest Mistake: Planting too early. Why? Garlic establishes it’s root system before sending up a green shoot. Planted too early, the green shoot can rise several inches, acting as a straw over the winter to draw water from the clove, effectively desiccating the clove and potentially killing it.
Can you plant garlic in the spring?
Yes, you can definitely plant garlic in the spring. Although most growers plant garlic in fall, you can plant it in spring as long as you chill or “cold treat” seed garlic before planting. Like daffodils and tulips, garlic needs a period of cold exposure to grow; garlic bulbs won’t produce multiple cloves without it.
Can you plant garlic in the fall and still get a harvest?
Even if you missed the fall planting window, here’s how you can plant garlic in spring and still get a harvest. Can you plant garlic in the spring? The answer is yes! Although the ideal time for planting garlic is in the fall, you can get those cloves in the ground early in spring and still get a harvest this year.
What happens if you plant garlic in the spring?
“If you plant it in the spring, that clove is only going to form a large single bulb with no cloves in it called a round. The bulb will be smaller than if you planted it in the fall.” Garlic in the spring or spring garlic?
How do you grow garlic?
Garlic is grown by sowing cloves directly into the ground. Whereas you normally would want to plant the best and hardiest cloves in the fall to grow garlic bulbs, you can plant smaller cloves if you are planning to harvest the plant at the end of the spring for green garlic.
Can you plant garlic if the calendar is getting away?
If the calendar is getting away from you, you can still plant cloves that haven’t been vernalized in the spring. However, the resulting garlic will be much smaller, and the bulbs won’t separate into individual cloves. But it will still be tasty. Think of these bulbs as garlic scallions.
Is it too late to plant garlic?
This piece was updated on 8/28/2023 to include photos of the harvested garlic from the cloves planted in th e spring. It’s not too late. You can plant garlic in the spring. In the book of Germinations, it doth say, “Woe to the springtime gardener who Googleth ‘When to plant garlic,” for there will be much gnashing of teeth and rending of robes.