Garlic may not be the first crop that comes to mind when thinking of Iowa, but many varieties do very well in the states cooler, northern climate. The perfect time to plant garlic for next summer’s harvest is right after the first frost in fall. If you want to cook up a stinky storm come July, all you’ll need is a bit of time, care and patience.
To help you on your way, we’ve compiled a guide for how to plant, care for, harvest and store your garlic. Grab your cloves and your trowel: garlic planting season is upon us!
Growing your own garlic in Iowa offers unmatched flavor and satisfaction compared to store-bought varieties. As a cool-weather crop, garlic thrives when planted during Iowa’s fall planting conditions With the proper timing and techniques, even novice gardeners can enjoy a bountiful garlic harvest right from their backyard or garden plot.
This complete guide covers everything you need to know about successfully planting, growing, and harvesting garlic in Iowa’s climate.
Choosing the Best Garlic Variety for Iowa’s Cool Season
Iowa’s cold winters and temperate summers make it ideal for growing hardneck garlic varieties. Hardneck garlic produces scapes (flowering shoots) and contains larger easier-to-peel cloves compared to softneck varieties commonly found in stores.
Some excellent hardneck garlic types that grow well in Iowa include:
- German Red: Adaptable variety with beautiful large cloves and spicy flavor. High yields.
- Music: Popular, reliable variety with mild flavor. Large, easy-to-peel cloves.
- German Extra Hardy: Rich, nutty flavor. Cold-hardy and stores well.
- Spanish Roja: Very spicy cloves and scapes. Heat tolerant.
- Chesnok Red: Large, purple-striped bulbs with rich, spicy flavor. Heavy yields.
Consult experienced local garlic growers for advice on varieties that thrive in your specific Iowa planting zone. Farmers’ markets are a great place to connect with growers and buy seed bulbs.
Knowing the Best Time to Plant Garlic in Iowa
Planting your garlic cloves at the right time in fall is crucial for success. You’ll want to plant approximately 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes to allow time for roots to establish before winter dormancy.
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Ideal planting window: Mid-to-late October after the first frost but 4-6 weeks before ground freeze.
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Avoid planting too early while soil is still warm, which can cause sprouting and cold damage.
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Don’t plant too late either. Cloves need time to root before winter.
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Monitor long-range forecasts and be ready to adjust planting dates based on changing weather.
Preparing Your Planting Site
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Select a site getting full sun (6+ hours per day). Garlic prefers fertile, well-drained soil with lots of organic matter. Avoid soggy areas.
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Loosen top 12 inches of soil and break up clumps. Mix in 2-4 inches of compost or rotted manure. Garlic needs rich soil.
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You can also mix in 1-2 lbs of balanced organic fertilizer per 100 sq ft of planting area.
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Raised beds improve drainage and are ideal.
How to Properly Plant Garlic Cloves
Once your planting site is prepped, it’s time to plant the cloves using these steps:
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Break bulbs into individual cloves just before planting. Plant the largest, healthiest cloves for biggest heads.
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Plant cloves root-side down and pointy end up, 1-2” deep.
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Space cloves 3-6” apart in rows 12-18” apart. Plant in straight rows for easier care.
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After planting, thoroughly water area to settle soil around cloves.
Caring for Your Garlic Plants
Proper care gives your garlic a healthy start:
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Mulch well after planting with 4-6” of straw or leaves to insulate plants from cold.
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Stay on top of weeds which steal nutrients/moisture from garlic.
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Water 1-2” weekly if lacking rain to provide consistent moisture.
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Side dress with fertilizer or compost once shoots emerge in spring.
Harvesting Garlic in Iowa
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Harvest bulbs when bottom 3-4 leaves turn yellow and dry in mid-summer (usually July in Iowa).
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Loosen soil with a garden fork and gently lift bulbs out. Don’t pull on stems.
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Gently shake off dirt but don’t wash bulbs yet.
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Allow bulbs to cure for 1-2 weeks out of sun/rain to improve storage.
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After curing, trim tops to 1⁄2” above bulb leaving roots intact.
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Store cured bulbs in a cool, dry place for months of fresh garlic!
Storing Your Iowa Garlic Harvest
Follow these tips to store harvest for up to 8 months:
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Keep bulbs in a cool (60-70°F), dry spot with good air circulation.
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Avoid humidity/moisture which causes mold and spoilage.
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Hang braided garlic or store loose bulbs in mesh bags/containers, not plastic.
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Regularly inspect for moldy/spoiled bulbs and remove them.
With the proper garlic variety choices, timing, care, and harvesting techniques, Iowa gardeners can enjoy prolific homegrown garlic crops bursting with incredible flavor. Get planting this fall and reap the rewards with next summer’s beautiful harvest!
When to start planting garlic
Regardless of the variety you choose, you’ll want to start planting your garlic after the first frost of fall and about four weeks before the first hard freeze. If you plant too late, the roots won’t be able to establish themselves before the ground becomes too hard, so your yield will be damaged next year. If you plant too early, the garlic will send up shoots that can be damaged by a freeze.
To avoid these timing hazards, plan to plant your garlic any time between the middle of October and the first week of November.
How to choose the right garlic type and variety
There are two types of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Hardneck varieties do relatively well in colder climates and are most often grown in Iowa. They produce flowering stalks, known as garlic scapes, and have larger but fewer cloves than the garlic you buy at the store. The most commonly planted varieties of hardneck garlic in Iowa are:
- Spanish Roja
- German Red
- German Extra Hardy
- Music
Softneck garlic is the kind you buy at the store. It has a long storage life, but it’s not as robust as hardneck and doesn’t grow as well in Iowa. However, there are a few varieties that are better suited for the climate.
- Inchellium Red
- New York White
- Susanville
Did you know? You can braid softneck garlic to hang in your home as decorative storage or for easy access to cloves in your kitchen!
Garlic From Grade A Gardens, Johnston, Iowa
FAQ
When should I plant garlic in Iowa?
Alternatively, garlic cloves can be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring (late March to early April in central Iowa).
What not to do when planting garlic?
Garlic needs consistent moisture, particularly in the early growth stages. Don’t Plant Too Early or Late: – Planting too early can lead to premature growth, while planting too late may not allow cloves to establish roots before winter. Avoid Overcrowding: – Give garlic enough space to grow.
Why do you soak garlic cloves before planting?
… of water, organic fish fertilizer, and baking soda is like giving your seed a vaccination of sorts- against the various fungal diseases that can affect garlicOct 5, 2015