Garlic bulbs are a popular and easy-to-grow crop that many gardeners enjoy planting.
1. When to Plant Garlic

Fall Planting: Garlic is typically planted in the fall, about 4–6 weeks before the ground freezes, allowing it to establish roots before winter. In many regions, this would be between late September and early November.

Spring Planting: In warmer climates, you can plant garlic in early spring after the last frost.

2. Preparing the Soil

Location: Choose a sunny spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.

Soil: Garlic prefers well-draining, fertile soil. You can improve your soil by adding organic compost or well-rotted manure.

pH: Garlic thrives in slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.

3. Planting Garlic

Breaking Apart Bulbs: Break the garlic bulb into individual cloves. Do this right before planting to prevent them from drying out.

Planting Depth: Plant cloves with the pointed end up, about 2 inches deep.

Spacing: Space the cloves 4–6 inches apart in rows, with rows spaced 10–12 inches apart.

4. Care and Maintenance

Watering: Garlic requires consistent moisture, but the soil should not be soggy. Water deeply and regularly, especially during dry periods.

Mulching: Mulch the garlic bed with straw or leaves to keep the soil warm, retain moisture, and suppress weeds.

Fertilization: Garlic doesn’t need a lot of fertilizer but can benefit from a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring.

5. Harvesting

Timing: Garlic is typically ready to harvest in mid to late summer (around June to July). The leaves will start to yellow and die back when the garlic is mature.

How to Harvest: Carefully pull the garlic bulbs from the soil. Avoid damaging the bulbs by using a shovel or garden fork.

Curing: After harvesting, let the garlic cure in a cool, dry place with good air circulation for 2-3 weeks before storing.