Garlic is one of the most rewarding things you can grow on your own. Garlic bulbs are tasty, and they last a long time. When we talk about times, you might be wondering how long does it take for garlic to grow now that planting season is coming up.
Most types take about 9 months to grow up when they are grown from cloves, but some are short-season and grow up faster. The way you plant garlic has bearing on when it’s ready for harvest too. You can easily grow new garlic from the bulbs of some types of garlic that you harvested last year, while other types of garlic should be used right away.
Planting garlic involves deciding whether you’re going to work with spring-planted garlic or fall-planted garlic. The USDA growing zone you’re in is an important consideration. And issues that arise in the process of growing garlic can change your timing as well.
So let’s look at all of these things to help you choose the right garlic bulbs and plant them at the right time so you can enjoy years of homegrown garlic.
For any home gardener, garlic is a must-grow crop. The flavor of homegrown garlic is far superior to grocery store varieties. Fortunately, garlic is also very easy to grow. By planting garlic cloves in the fall, you can harvest bountiful bulbs come summer. But exactly how long does it take garlic to reach maturity? Let’s walk through the entire garlic growing timeline.
Garlic Growth Stages
Garlic goes through a complete yearly cycle in order to produce those delicious bulbs
Fall – Garlic is planted in the fall about 4-6 weeks before the first expected frost. Single garlic cloves are placed 1-2 inches deep in the soil with the pointed end up Strong root systems develop before winter dormancy
Winter – Garlic enters a dormant phase through the winter months. Little growth occurs but the garlic cloves remain hardy through cold snaps and frost. A protective mulch layer is recommended.
Spring – As daylight hours increase in spring, green shoots begin emerging from the soil. This indicates the garlic is breaking dormancy. More vigorous leaf growth occurs through spring.
Early Summer – Garlic begins forming bulbs as the daylight reaches peak duration. Bulbs grow underground as the leafy greens continue above ground. Flowers may form but should be pinched off.
Mid Summer – By mid summer, typically June-July, the garlic tops start yellowing and dying back. This signals the bulbs have reached full maturity. Time to harvest!
Total time from planting to harvest is 8-9 months. But active growth only occurs in spring and summer once dormancy has passed.
Factors that Affect Garlic Growth Rate
Several factors play a role in determining the exact rate of garlic growth:
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Garlic variety – Some types mature faster, like ‘Early Red Italian’ in just 75-90 days. Others take longer, like ‘Chesnok Red’ needing up to 120 days.
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Climate – Garlic grows faster when temperatures are mild, around 60-75°F. Cooler climates delay growth.
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Daylength – Garlic needs increasing daylight followed by decreasing daylight to form bulbs. This signals the plant to stop leaf growth and focus energy below ground.
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Soil conditions – Loose, fertile, well-drained soil enables optimal growth. Dense or nutrient-poor soil will slow development.
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Planting depth – Planting cloves too deep can impede emergence and reduce vigor. Stick to 1-2 inches depth.
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Fertilization – Applying balanced organic fertilizer when shoots appear in spring fuels growth.
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Watering – Consistent moisture is important for fast growth. About 1 inch per week.
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Pests – Damage from onion maggots, thrips, or disease will stunt plants.
When to Expect Garlic to Reach Maturity
It’s tricky to predict the exact date when garlic will be ready to harvest since weather fluctuations impact development each year. But here are some general timeframes:
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Southern climates – Garlic matures faster in warm southern regions. Bulbs may be harvest-ready starting in late May through June.
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Northern climates – The cooler temperatures delay growth for northern gardeners. Harvest typically occurs in July or August.
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Spring planted – In very mild climates, some garlic can be planted in early spring and harvested that summer. This bypasses the needed winter dormancy period.
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Elevation – At higher elevations, garlic takes longer to mature due to cooler temperatures and shorter growing seasons. Add several weeks to normal timeframes.
No matter your location or climate, keep a close eye on the garlic plants in early summer. When about one third of the leaves have turned yellow, it’s time to start your harvest.
Harvesting Garlic at Peak Flavor
It’s important not to jump the gun when harvesting garlic. Early harvesting reduces bulb size and flavor. For best results, follow these tips:
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Leave bulbs underground until at least 50% of leaves yellow. More is better.
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Stop watering once bulbs start forming to help leaves dry out.
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When leaves are 50-75% yellowed, carefully loosen soil and lift bulbs.
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Brush off excess dirt but don’t wash until roots are dry.
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Allow bulbs to dry in indirect sunlight for 2-3 weeks with good air circulation.
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Once thoroughly cured, cut off roots and stems to about 1″. Store in a cool, dry place.
Well-cured garlic can be stored up to 8 months. Proper curing also prevents sprouting and mold growth during storage.
Growing Garlic Year After Year
The process may take the better part of a year, but harvesting your own garlic is extremely rewarding. And your planting opportunities aren’t limited to just one season. You can continue enjoying fresh garlic by:
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Replanting the largest “seed” cloves saved from each harvested bulb in fall.
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Staggering fall plantings over several weeks to harvest garlic through summer.
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Growing different garlic varieties with varied maturation rates.
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Saving some smaller cloves to plant in very early spring for summer harvests.
With the right cultivation techniques, your homegrown garlic can keep providing bountiful yields, season after season!
So now that you know what to expect in terms of garlic growth timelines, you can look forward to a steady harvest of this flavorful crop. A little patience as the bulbs slowly develop will reward you with the ultimate garlic for cooking, medicinal uses, and gardening pleasure!
Growing from Seed v Growing from Clove
Aside from harvesting garlic scapes, you can grow garlic in different garlic growing stages. Once the garlic is picked, growers let each bulb dry out in a well-ventilated area and store it in a number of different ways. During the growing process, gardeners can collect garlic seed from flowers to grow again the following year. They also have the option to plant garlic cloves, which each act as a seed on their own.
Which type you choose to plant has bearing on your harvest time. It takes about 9 months to grow cloves, but it takes a year longer to grow garlic seeds than garlic bulbs (sometimes called bulbils). That’s because the seed has to sprout, grow the leaves that plants need for photosynthesis, and then the bulb has to form. When you plant cloves, the first half of the process is already complete.
Think about the type of garlic you want to grow and where it comes from before you plant it. This will help you figure out when to plant your garlic. There are some cold-climate garlic varieties that like it best when temperatures are cooler.
When to Plant Garlic
Another consideration in knowing when you’ll harvest garlic is the planting time. While there is spring-planted garlic and fall-planted garlic overall, there is also climate to consider. Softneck garlic is better when planted in warmer climates and hardneck garlic is best planted in cooler climates. The differences between the two exist in their botany as well. We will discuss those in a later section.
Most people plant garlic in the fall, four to six weeks before the first frost in early summer or early fall. It is also most often fall-planted garlic due to its ability to produce larger bulbs over cold winters. This general list is for fall plantings. It is possible to plant garlic in the spring, and most people do it 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost in early spring. Softneck varieties do best in mild climates in zones 6 and up, but some, like the Polish softneck, can handle cold weather.
When you plant cloves of either type may depend on the season you want to grow them in, which is mostly determined by your USDA growing zone. Here is a rough breakdown of when to plant garlic based on the type and USDA growing zone.
- Zones 0-3: Late August – early September to Late September
- Zones 3-5: Mid – late September to Early – mid-October
- Zones 5-7: Early – mid-October to Late October
- Zones 7-9: Late October to November
- Zones 9-10: Late October to December
If you’re growing garlic plants with your alliums, use the planting dates of the alliums to figure out when to start planting garlic plants. For instance, grow tomatoes next to garlic to prevent spider mites.
How Long Does Garlic Take To Grow?
How long does it take to harvest garlic?
You’ll have your garden fork out for harvesting within 90 days of planting. If you’re interested in growing garlic purely for the greens, know you can harvest those multiple times in a growing season. However, you must wait for late spring and early summer to do so.
How long does garlic take to grow?
While cloves take roughly 9 months from planting, garlic seeds take a year more than garlic bulbs (sometimes called bulbils). That’s because the seed has to germinate, grow the greenery necessary for photosynthesis, and then go through the process of bulb formation. When you plant cloves, the first half of the process is already complete.
How big does garlic grow?
Garlic has solid, narrow, strap-shaped stalks that can grow 12 to 24 inches tall and 6 to 8 inches wide. Underground, garlic forms round, white papery sheathed bulbs or heads. A head is divided into a cluster of individual cloves. Garlic bulbs form 4 to 5 inches below the soil surface.
How do you grow garlic?
Sow cloves of seed garlic 2 inches (5.1 cm) deep in well-draining soil in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. Water garlic once a week during the growing season in the spring and summer. Dig up and harvest your garlic in the summer when the bottoms of the stems turn yellow.