Garlic has been grown for thousands of years in many parts of the world. Egyptian workers on the pyramids are recorded as being fed garlic every day to keep them healthy.
Garlic grows better and more reliably in containers and raised beds compared to the open ground. The conditions are ideal for this versatile plant. If they are grown in pots like the ones above, the compost can be used in the garden or put on a compost pile after they are picked. This avoids the need for crop rotation which can be a problem in larger raised beds.
Growing plump flavorful garlic bulbs requires providing plants with proper spacing in your vegetable garden. Determining the right distance between garlic plants and rows in raised beds ensures healthy growth. Here, we’ll look at ideal garlic spacing, along with tips for planting and maintaining your garlic crop in raised beds.
Why Garlic Spacing Matters
Carefully spacing garlic allows plants to receive ample air circulation and sunlight penetration. It also reduces competition for water and nutrients between plants With crowded, dense planting, bulbs will be smaller, growth will be stunted, and disease risks increase
Proper spacing depends on the garlic variety and your desired harvest goals – maximize yield or maximize bulb size. In general, a spacing of 4-6 inches between plants and 8-12 inches between rows is ideal in raised beds. Wider spaced plants produce larger individual bulbs, while closer spacing produces smaller bulbs but an overall greater total yield.
Garlic Spacing Guidelines
Follow these spacing guidelines when planting garlic in raised garden beds:
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Standard spacing is 6 inches apart with 10-12 inches between rows. This allows bulbs to size up well while still producing a good plant density.
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For larger bulbs, space cloves 8-10 inches apart with 12 inches between rows.
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For maximizing total yield, plant cloves 4-5 inches apart with 8 inches between rows. Expect smaller bulbs.
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Give hardneck garlic varieties more space than softneck types which have smaller bulbs.
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Space giant elephant garlic cloves 10-12 inches apart due to their substantial bulb size.
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Allow extra spacing in hot climates which cause bulbs to grow larger.
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Space plants closer together in containers compared to garden beds due to size restrictions.
Tips for Planting Garlic in Raised Beds
Follow these tips to properly space and plant your garlic crop in raised beds:
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Loosen soil and mix in compost or aged manure before planting. Garlic prefers nutrient-rich, well-draining soil.
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Use an offset spacing pattern between rows. For example, space row 1 at 6 inches, row 2 at 12 inches, and repeat. This efficiently utilizes space.
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Mark rows and planting locations with sticks or strings as guides when planting cloves. Proper spacing starts here.
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Plant cloves root-side down, pointy tips up, 2-3 inches deep. Place them vertically or horizontally in holes.
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Push soil firmly around cloves so there are no air pockets. Water gently after planting.
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Label raised bed rows and mark your planting plan so you remember garlic variety spacing.
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Consider interplanting garlic with shallow-rooted vegetables like lettuce and spinach to make use of space while plants are small.
Ongoing Care and Spacing Adjustments
Once your garlic begins growing in raised beds, you may need to make occasional spacing adjustments:
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Thin overly crowded seedlings if they start to exceed planned spacing by snipping some at soil level.
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Weed regularly to prevent competition for nutrients and water, essential with proper spacing.
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Water when top few inches of soil are dry to prevent water competition between plants.
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Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced organic fertilizer to replenish nutrients.
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Remove any flowering stalks to direct energy back to the developing bulbs.
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Avoid planting other crops nearby that shade garlic or have aggressive roots like potatoes.
Spacing for Good Air Flow
Proper air circulation is essential for growing healthy, mold-free garlic. Follow these tips:
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Make sure your raised bed spacing provides adequate airflow around each plant.
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Avoid planting garlic in low-lying areas or frost pockets where cold, moist air accumulates.
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Weed regularly to promote air movement at soil level.
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Use mulch that allows air to penetrate like straw or leaves rather than plastic sheeting.
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Water in morning so foliage dries quickly. Drip irrigation works well.
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Stake up any softneck garlic varieties that begin to lodge or fall over.
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Consider adding small fans if humidity and air circulation are a consistent problem.
Maximizing Sun Exposure
Sunlight is vital for robust garlic growth. Use these spacing strategies to provide adequate sun:
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Space plants appropriately so they aren’t shaded by dense foliage.
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Orient raised beds so garlic receives maximum sunlight, at least 6-8 hours per day.
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Avoid taller crops that will shade garlic like corn, trellised beans, etc.
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If needed, succession plant garlic after quick-maturing spring crops like radishes or lettuces.
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Keep nearby trees and shrubs pruned to reduce shade on your garlic beds.
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Paint or whitewash raised bed sides to reflect more light if they are shading plants.
Properly spacing your garlic using these recommendations will promote an abundant harvest from your raised beds for years to come. Adjust as needed based on your climate, variety, and soil conditions.
TYPES AND VARIETIES OF GARLIC FOR RAISED BEDS AND CONTAINERS
Before giving advice on which types of garlic to grow in pots or raised beds, it’s helpful to know that there are three main types of garlic. For the average gardener, the softneck varieties are probably the best. These are the varieties you can buy in stores (see more about this below). This type has a slightly milder flavour compared to the other varieties but they store far better. See the section below on how to store garlic for more information on how to keep it for at least four months. In general this type of garlic is best suited to warmer areas of the UK.
The next most common type are the hardneck varieties. They have a stronger flavour and are ideal for roasting whole and general use as well. Their major disadvantage is that they only keep well for a month or so. Many people think that this kind of garlic grows best in cooler climates in the north, but it can still be grown successfully in the south of the UK.
The final type of garlic is the elephant variety. These produce much larger individual cloves of garlic and the taste is very mild, sweet even after cooking. These are the least hardy of the garlic types and they do not store well. In fact, a lot of people think that elephant garlic is a type of leek, but let the experts decide!
As far as the best varieties of garlic go it’s a matter of taste and personal opinion. Our personal preference for a softneck is Solent Wight. It has been awarded an AGM by the RHS. It matures late and stores very well, four months easily if the conditions are correct. The yield is good and they look superb. A reasonably strong taste but not over-powering. Germidour is another great variety that always gives us big cloves. You can find it in many garden centers and online.
If you want to try a hardneck variety then our award goes to Purple Italian. This variety matures early, from end June to mid July. Ideal for roasting, they should be used as fresh as possible because they have a short storage period.
We don’t think you should grow elephant garlic in the UK unless it’s just an experiment. But if you want to, you can; all the big garden centers and seed stores sell them.
People often ask if they can plant garlic cloves they bought at the store. We tell them no for a few reasons. The first problem is that no one knows what kind of garlic it is, and most of the garlic sold in grocery stores is grown in China or other places that aren’t good for the UK climate. Another reason not to buy garlic from the store is that some of it has been sprayed with chemicals by the growers to stop it from sprouting.
OUR VIDEO SHOWING HOW TO PLANT GARLIC IN A CONTAINER OR RAISED BED
If you fill your raised bed or container with regular multi-use compost, you have the perfect soil for growing garlic. They prefer an open well-drained soil which can retain moisture.
Before planting, look at the picture on the left of a garlic bulb and a garlic clove. When you buy your garlic from a garden centre it will come as a garlic bulb.
The bulb contains 10 or more cloves, see bottom of the picture. When you separate the cloves as shown below, only plant the bigger cloves and throw away the smaller ones.
The first thing to be done is to separate the individual cloves in garlic bulb. To do this, peel off the bulb’s outer skin. Then, you can feel the shape of the individual cloves. Break the skin that holds the cloves together with your fingernail or a blunt knife. Then, carefully tease out each clove one at a time. Once the first clove is separated the others will be easy to extract.
There’s no need to peel off the skin from the cloves, just leave them as they are.
Now use the picture to work out which is the top and bottom of the cloves. The top is the pointy end and the bottom is the flatter end. When planting each clove the bottom end goes into the soil with the top end uppermost.
The best time to plant garlic cloves in raised beds and containers is October / November time. Why is this? Garlic grows better after a period of cold weather (our winter is fine) before it starts to grow fully.
The professionals call this “vernalization,” but all it means is a month or two in the cold. If you miss November, any time up to Christmas will also do as second best. Garlic can also be planted in early spring.
Before you plant your garlic cloves, sprinkle a long-lasting fertilizer like “blood fish and bone” or “bonemeal” over the top of the soil in the pot or raised bed and gently work it in. This will provide a slow supply of nutrients over the next few months.
Cloves should be planted 10cm / 4in apart. With a plant marker or your finger, dig a hole big enough for the clove to fit in. The clove’s tips should be about 2 cm (1 in) below the soil’s surface. Cover with the surrounding soil and gently firm it in. If the soil is dry water it lightly. To avoid forgetting where you planted the cloves, make a mark on the ground. It will take them a few weeks to grow.
CARING FOR GARLIC AS IT GROWS
Garlic requires very little attention during its growth. For the first six weeks, keep an eye on them often because as soon as the green tips show up, birds may try to peck them off. Some birds are very good at this. If they only eat one garlic clove at a time, just put it back in the ground and pack it down again. If birds become a problem then cover the raised bed / containers with horticultural fleece.
Our normal care routine for raised beds and containers should take care of garlic. It’s also worthwhile reading the paragraph on the specific feeding and watering needs of garlic (see here).
Different types and varieties of garlic take different times to mature. Most varieties will mature around August though some early varieties can mature as early as June. The garlic is ready to be picked when the leaves start to turn yellow and the stems start to bend over.
Garlic can be eaten as soon as it matures and this will give them a milder flavour. Most of the bulbs though should be carefully dug from the soil and loose soil removed. The next step is to let the garlic dry out in the sun with the stems and leaves. Pick the garlic on a warm day. So that air can flow around the bulbs, they should be put on netting or horticultural fleece that is held up from the ground.
They will stay fresh longer if you let them dry out for longer. Up to a week is fine. But more practically, a day or two in the sunshine will do the job sufficiently. If it looks like it’s going to rain, move the garlic cloves to a dry, airy spot. Later, put them back in the sun.
Once the bulbs are dry, cut the stems back until there are about 3 cm (1 in) left. Store in a cool, dark, and airy place. A lot of people keep their garlic in the kitchen, but the light and heat will make it sprout. It’s best to keep it somewhere dark, cool, and airy.
How to Plant and Grow Garlic in Containers and Raised Beds
FAQ
How close to plant garlic in a raised bed?
How far apart do you space garlic?
How much garlic can I plant in a 4×8 raised bed?
What happens if you plant garlic too close?
How deep should garlic be planted in raised garden beds?
A: Garlic cloves should be planted 2-3 inches deep in raised garden beds, with the pointed end facing up. Q: How much should I space garlic cloves when planting in raised garden beds? A: Space garlic cloves about 4-6 inches apart in raised garden beds, with rows about 6-8 inches apart. Q: Do I need to water the garlic in raised garden beds?
How far apart should garlic be planted?
Garlic cloves planted close together produce small bulbs, but a larger overall yield. If you want big bulbs, space them at least 6 inches apart. There are two types of garlic you can plant: softneck garlic and hardneck garlic. They vary in cold hardiness, clove size and formation, and the production of garlic scapes.
When should garlic be planted in raised garden beds?
A: Garlic is typically planted in the fall before the ground freezes. In most regions, this means planting garlic in raised garden beds in late September or early October. Q: How deep should I plant garlic in raised garden beds? A: Garlic cloves should be planted 2-3 inches deep in raised garden beds, with the pointed end facing up.
How high should a garlic bed be?
It is best to plant garlic on beds 4 to 6 inches high, which, is enough to help the soil warm up quickly in spring and allows good drainage when conditions are wet. There are some gardeners who use beds as high as 36 inches that are built using materials such as wood for sides.