2 named cultivars

fruit vegetable

Garlic

The Story

Plant Bio

Allium sativum, garlic, is an erect bulbous perennial from central Asia grown as an annual crop, reaching a foot to eighteen inches. Long flat grass-like leaves rise in a fan from an underground bulb divided into cloves, and hardneck types send up a curling flower scape carrying small pink or white flowers and bulbils.

It is planted in autumn rather than spring, because the bulb needs several weeks of cold before it will divide into cloves — spring-planted garlic usually produces one undivided round. On hardneck types, snap the curling scapes off in early summer: the bulbs below finish noticeably larger, and the scapes themselves are excellent eaten.

Uses & Benefits:

Upright grey-green foliage and, on hardneck types, elegant curling scapes in early summer.

A staple kitchen crop that stores for months when properly cured, from a single autumn planting.

Deer and rabbits avoid it, and it is tolerant of black walnut where many crops are not.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Fruit Vegetable

Height

15 inches

Width

10 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial grown as an annual

Native To

Central Asia

Toxicity

Edible for people; toxic to cats and dogs

Planting

How to Grow

Plant individual cloves in autumn, pointed end up.
Choose full sun and rich, freely draining soil.
Space cloves six inches apart and two inches deep.
Snap off the curling scapes on hardneck types.
Stop watering once the lower leaves yellow.
Lift when about a third of the leaves have browned.

Pro Tip

Snap the scapes off hardneck garlic in early summer — the bulbs finish appreciably larger, and the scapes are a crop in themselves.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant cloves in autumn, not spring 🍂
Remove scapes from hardneck types ✂️
Stop watering as the leaves yellow 💧
Cure the harvested bulbs in the dry 🧄

Don't

Plant supermarket garlic ❌
Wait until all leaves brown to harvest ❌
Keep watering through ripening ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Harvest
Plant

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Vegetable bed and kitchen gardenEdging in an ornamental edible plantingContainers and raised beds

Companion Plants

Carrot Lettuce Strawberry Chamomile Beetroot

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Garlic questions

What zones can Garlic grow in?

Garlic is hardy in USDA Zones 5–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Garlic deer resistant?

Yes — Garlic is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Garlic bloom?

Garlic typically blooms in early summer through early summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Garlic need full sun?

Garlic does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.