Everything You Need to Know About Planting Garlic

[@Freestile74]

Hi Luke, I live near Lapeer Michigan so not too far from you. You said to plant 30 days before first frost date, which is October 1 in 2024. That means planting day around September 1. But later in your video, you mentioned “when you plant in October…” can you clarify when you actually planted your garlic as this was confusing. thanks Luke! Love your videos!

[@gregdoh]

I'm in south central Wisconsin and plant garlic the first week of November, mostly hardneck, planted 4" apart and 2" deep. I tried 6" spacing once and noticed no difference in bulb size so I went back to 4". I've never added sulfer but we don't get as much rain as Michigan, so I've never had any garlic rot. I haven't needed to buy garlic in 7 years now. So easy and fun to grow and save seed from for the next year! GL everyone!

[@curtdunlap6818]

Oh how I love hardneck garlics. Those scapes are wonderful in soups, stews, omelets and just sauteed in butter and bacon! The clove harvest is the second wave! It's like two harvests out of one crop!

[@cynthianorman935]

For hardness, I still plant the smaller cloves. I want the garlic scapes to eat them. I don't mind small heads I replant them for more garlic scapes!

[@matthewwarren6196]

It was loud enough for me, I heard him. I just planted 60 cloves of Leningrad garlic here in the thumb yesterday. Now I'm worried I went too deep or put too much back over it. I went about 4 inches or so deep, but maybe I'm ok because the cloves were fairly large. I did mix my mulch that contains chicken coop bedding of poo, straw, pine shavings n natural ash / charcoal and lawn clippings in with it so it was fairly loose. This is my first year with garlic so I'm paranoid. I did also plant 6 inches apart, but next year I will do the 3 or so. Trying to bulk produce for a roadside stand here in Applegate 😊

[@JamieE76]

Don't worry about it too much. Your best bet is to wait until spring/summer and see what happens. You'll know then if you did anything terribly wrong, and then just change it up the next planting. I'm on my 3rd year of planting garlic, and I still learned something new from this video. :)

[@Andrea-si2vs]

If you only just planted, try digging some up and replant higher and then compare the outcome next year.

[@grantjohnson5308]

You should be fine. I’ve done it for 4 years and done very well. I just pushed em down in I bought from store and added some farmers market garlic. Now I just replant from last season every year.

[@sueweathers3978]

We live close to the Canadian border. Last year we planted our first garlic in Nov 1st. It was actually spitting snow as we planted. It all went down over 2 inches deep . Maybe 3! We put a tablespoon of trifecta in each hole first and stirred it up. After planting, we covered with a chopped straw. Then prayed we hadn't messed it up! Ha our garlic was harvested in August and they were huge!!! This year we'll use sulphur. Our bed is very fluffy.. Tyo much so. Also didn't water after planting because it was snowing! Hoses already put away🥶

[@danarzechula3769]

Ooo lucky you I wish I had access to chicken poo😂

[@KathySarich]

Audio is good now. 😊 I just planted all of the cloves last year, big and small, and little bulbs from the little cloves surprised me this year, most separated into two big cloves rather than lots of little cloves. Lol!

[@jordanyeager9220]

I'm always 6 beers in when in gardening lol 🌿

[@MIgardener]

Haha!!!😂

[@SimplerTimesHomestead]

Thank you, MI Gardener! We had decided that we were going to grow garlic this year for the first time and this helps greatly. Thank you for making the process easy to understand!

[@Bigfoottehchipmunk]

Oh golly. I probably better get my garlic in this week! I just know I planted too early two years ago. I have been waiting for a bed to free up from fall stuff. 😅 One thing I did last year that helped in my yard was that I added an inexpensive plastic mesh on top of my mulch to keep the squirrels and some birds from digging up my cloves. It also kept my chickens from accidentally scratching that bed during winter.

[@pilsplease7561]

Yes, you are nearly late, so i would suggest getting it into the ground soon. Make sure you add some blood and bone meal when you plant it

[@Bigfoottehchipmunk]

@@pilsplease7561 They are all put to bed during a warm up last week, with added compost soil and a fat layer of leaves. I guess I will find out if I should have done more.

[@pilsplease7561]

I planted my garlic 7 days ago cause it cooled off then its been over 70-80 for 6 days and im worried it will mess the garlic up, did put it in the fridge for like 7-10 weeks prior to planting im hoping that was enough to help make sure it gets enough cold to grow right cause i dont get enough frosts here @@Bigfoottehchipmunk

[@IamPerfectlyImperfect]

Your videos are very informative

[@FarmsteadForge]

Could you use wood ash or epsom salts as a source of sulfur? We have never had any rot, but just curious.

[@debbieblood439]

I would like to see a video on growing garlic indoors, if it's possible to do.

[@JCPDBRC]

Just planted some Music Garlic yesterday. Used my finger to poke holes for the cloves. Thanks for the video!

[@Tinyteacher1111]

I just pulled out my last raised bed plant. I had a bunch of rogue tomatoes, 2 heirloom tomatoes, about 3 picky cucumbers, and 1 butternut squash that was about 1 1/2” (Yes, inches!) tall! I wanted to have a garden this year and last year, but broke my arm falling off a ladder last summer that never healed right because I have Lyme, which restricts blood flow. How disappointing to move from a beautiful condo that had mold on the basement wall, and hence, throughout the entire 3 floors, so I got mold toxicity! I moved to a house that’s very nice with a privacy fence for my dog, here after having it tested, but my summers have consisted of chasing my dog out of the mud (slope in back) and trying to tend a garden, yard, and home alone with one arm. I’m 4’ 9”, and found out quickly who my friends were! Love your channel, even if I can hardly use the tips. 🥲

[@Tinyteacher1111]

WHAT?! No volunteers out there in KZbin land to come rushing to my aid, and replace the boyfriends and fiancée that I let go because they didn’t care for the fact that let family members move in even they had mold in their house? (They just happened to be my ex-husband and grown son, but I’m compassionate!) I’m so alone with my 1 1/2”…… squash! At least it wasn’t a picky cucumber! 😜

[@joshuahoyer1279]

If you've ever broken a pitchfork or shovel off it's handle, that handle makes a great dibber! Might need a little sanding to get the end a little rounded off, but that's what I use to plant most of my transplants now!

[@MIgardener]

Cool idea!

[@mellyg8872]

Always learning on this channel. Thanks Luke!

[@MIgardener]

Glad to hear it!

[@Wendy-ir6ww]

So as I plan on soon covering my chicken pen area with a new layer of pine, I can add some of that to a new batch of garlic plantings. Also good to know that my being in zone 6, I should be able to grow hardnecks and softnecks in my yard.

[@scrapdog2844]

That is interesting about the seed size because the cloves that I bought from you were nowhere near the size you just said.

[@beckypeterson7522]

sulphur! THAT'S what I forgot! Just planted it today- can I top dress the soil with the sulphur?

[@judydwiggins3456]

Thank you! I planted garlic yesterday and did not plant smaller cloves. So happy to know I did it right. ❤

The first frost date is somewhat difficult to tell when the weather is crazy like these last years. Other sources advice to plant garlic when the soil temperature drops under 9 degrees of Celsius (48 F). I guess that might be little bit easier to get it right. Concerning the spacing - space the rows about 15 cm (6 inches) from each other but within the row you can plant the cloves as close as 8cm (3 inches) and it will be fine.

[@MBennett-gy6js]

Mulch. I gotta learn more about mulches. We use shredded leaves & grass clippings. Worked good last year. Sometimes, we use mowed weeds & grasses, that doesn't work too well, tons of foxtail pop up.

[@mudpiemudpie785]

Thanks, Luke. This info was great, but I plant my garlic in grow bags and I'd love a video on that.

[@SuperStruct]

There's soft neck, hard neck.... but what about the ruffneck (bass)?

[@mneraasen224]

I love the German hardneck garlic I purchased at MI Gardener, they had crazy big cloves 💖When I save my own Hard-neck garlic I leave the stem at least 4 inches long, it helps break the garlic apart and you can bunch varieties together with a rubber band. It Just loosen the skin by rotating it in circles pull off the stem paper and loosen the glove paper rotate it again and the cloves should pop off, or at least gone enough room to get your thumb in there.

[@user-wi7ck5zf7y]

your videos are very informative Thank you

[@SylviaJonathan]

The sulfur at our farm coop comes in VERY FINE powder, like talc, with warning about personal protection gear etc. Where did you buy your granules??

[@soidog4615]

30 days before the first frost date? That would be August for us. I always thought you plant in November, that's what I've done but I've only planted one year. They got huge.

[@deborahcaldwell9775]

Oh yay because I just purchased a great glop of plantable GARLIC

[@jeffreydawnbrown6419]

Do I have to water during the winter months? How often without snow/rain? Zone 5, average first frost date Oct 9, last frost date Apr 30. I’m attempting garlic in a 25 gallon livestock mineral tub. First time attempting garlic. Just finishing up my 3rd summer gardening. Thank you for your very helpful and informative videos!

[@lauriedavis4045]

I plant larher cloves first of course, then smaller if there's space--the resulting smaller heads can always be used for cooking.

[@flatlander2743]

I've been experimenting with straw bale gardening. As the main season winds down the bales are usually beginning to fall apart. I use the semi rotted straw as mulch.

[@leedunne7726]

Very appreciative of the back stories behind your advice.

[@LorentzInvariance]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Karina4berger]

Wish I would have found your video last year. So helpful. Now I can correct my mistakes for the next garlic season.

[@roelven1282]

Greetings from the Netherlands... (8a-8b-9) ... last year i attempted hardneck Garlic ... and i got a huge harvest

[@MeFormore]

I lived in NL for the last 20 years and everything I grew in the earth grew great. Nl has great fertile soil..

[@catherinemaxine2079]

The video I needed 🙌🏼 got my garlic from y’all!

[@liztinsley1993]

Garlic is one of my absolute favorite things to eat in the kitchen. Thank you for the helpful video. I’m glad that trifecta plus is finally available on Amazon. Thank you.

[@pawsnclawsOG]

I came here for planting garlic, but the pine shaving mulch was so good to know! A million thanks!

[@janetroyal6009]

Hi, thank you for explaining this process. You mentioned that after you put the pine shavings on you water it well. After that initial watering, when do you begin to water it again? thanks.

[@sherrydaugherty747]

When do you put the trifecta in? Do you just put some in each hole? Or spread it out?

[@stephaniegee227]

Ideal planting time here in middle Tennessee is a bit of a guess, every year. Our weather yo-yo's so much that 30 days before first anticipated frost means you'll see greens growing in about 45 days. Then again, we can only do hardneck varieties here, and we're in 7a.

[@darcy8195]

I planted garlic I got from the Amish. I’ll add the Trifecta I just bought from you and I need to get pine shaving added. Yay!!!! Thanks for the videos!

[@MIgardener]

Glad you enjoyed! Happy gardening!

[@earthisflat]

I got inchelium red garlic and nootka rose garlic undergoing vernalization right now, ive been gardening for years and this is the first year im trying to grow garlic, can't wait to see which variety taste best 😁

[@ypsrudy1]

My wife and I watch your very informative video's. I'm not picking on you because most of the youtube channels we view Do Not say where they live before you start your episode. At least please let us know what state your in. Thank you,,,

[@debbiemusgrove676]

Michigan

[@marcidevries5515]

MI is Michigan. 😊

[@lidip8700]

I bought 4 different varieties of garlic from MiGardener. I've planted 1/2of them. I'm glad I watched this video, because I didn't know about the sulfur & I have planted them too deep.

[@slyborgl]

Another great video! Thanks for sharing! I wish I could have you come plant me a garden, lol 😂😁

[@MIgardener]

Maybe one day! 😜 happy gardening!

[@melindaroth5796]

Awesome info THANK YOU LUKE ❤😊

[@lidip8700]

Btw, I've decided to plant a few garlic cloves in my flower pots to discourage critters from eating my flowers!! (Deer & raccoons hate garlic!!)

[@CaroleHaddon]

Luke, I look to you for a lot of gardening knowledge. I didn't plant garlic last fall, could I still do soft neck garlic and get it in now? Or did I completely miss my chance till fall?

[@cwolgamot]

Love this. Third year planting garlic. First year almost complete bust. This year just harvested so excited to have a somewhat decent yield. Planting now maybe a little late in Ohio. Nov 8. Lots more this year so with this info hopefully will yield great results 🤩

[@lindakemer4950]

We’re in 4b . Had our first frost last week but back to warm temps. I already have a leaf coming up. Hope it doesn’t ruin it but the others are still underground. I will search your video to see what I should or shouldn’t do for this early riser. Hope the other soft and hard necks stay below my mulch layer.🤞

[@MasterChiefSha]

Man i would like to date this migardner guy. He's nice, kind, useful, and seems pretty amazing with his knowledge.

[@bwayne40004]

I am ready to plant my garlic. I am waiting another week or so to do so. I learned about pelleted sulfur today. Usually I just give a light dose of the sulfur powder.

[@daadams3]

Can you use the same raised bed Year after year for growing garlic?

[@MorroccoM13]

Good video as always. Picking the proper planting time for garlic is never easy. I'm in zone 6A, 16 miles west of Boston. Our average first frost is Oct 6th. Last year our first frost didn't come until early Nov and this year its looking like next Tuesday BUT warm days remain ahead. Now I go by either the native Indians rule of around the last full moon of October of AFTER the first frost. Both those will be a few days apart this year. I will let you know how it works out. Some mighty BIG heads of garlic there ! So much fun to grow.

[@gregdoh]

I always wait to plant until warm weather is done so the garlic doesn't sprout. We usually get a few light frosts in October here in Wisconsin, but not enough to freeze the ground. Been growing garlic for about 8 years now and there was 1 year where I planted in mid-october and the garlic sprouted. It still did well enough though.

[@MorroccoM13]

@@gregdoh EXACTLY! Last year I planted on Oct 29th and it stayed warm all winter and it grew all winter. Miserable (small) heads of garlic.

[@gregdoh]

@@MorroccoM13 We start by following advice from others to maximize results then experiment on our own and do what works best for our individual needs! And sometimes we still have failures that we might have little to no control over (such as a very late frost in spring that could kill fruit tree buds and prevent fruit from growing). My middle row of garlic didn't do great last year, most likely due to the drought we had in my area and uneven watering as I watered by hand (I'm setting up drip irrigation next year). Cheers!

[@MorroccoM13]

@@gregdoh We had zero rain last summer and nothing but rain all summer this year. Garden on !

[@carriebeard9926]

Very informative!

[@MIgardener]

Glad it was helpful!

[@trishdowney176]

This was a great video, informative and concise! Thank you!

[@vickismall6859]

So I planted German white this year 125 cloves. 6” apart But I also planted them 3”-4” deep. They have been in for two weeks now. A few have even sprouted thru. Just buried them in leaves. Should I dig them up and plant more shallow? Columbus Ohio 6a

[@JulieR207]

Just planted my soft neck a week ago, but I didn’t know about the sulfur. I’ll rake the mulch back & add it. Thanks Luke!

[@DebbiePursurDavid-tx2bc]

Hello this is a great video. I planted my garlic 2-3 Wk’s ago and it is beginning to grow up thru the soil already. My question ... is that normal. I’m in N. Central Texas, zone 8a. Thank you in advance. Debbie

[@pattieder3242]

i'm in north Arkansas. We have an abundance of rice hulls here. Would that work for a mulch? I have a lot of it.

[@cityfeetB3]

Planted garlic for the first time this year watching your older videos. Is there any fertilizing or maintenance done in the spring to keep it going that you could do a video about?

[@Bigfoottehchipmunk]

Just watch it grow! :) Give it some water if your spring time is dry, but usually not needed. Maybe pull a weed here and there, but shouldn't be too much of a problem, since you have mulch in place.

[@djcendrowski8587]

How do you "save" garlic from the winter planting to be able to use for fall planting again. Seems like it would go bad from a July harvest to a fall planting.

[@FosterChicken]

The mulch you use is called "animal bedding"? I need to find this. Thanks.

[@helenli982]

Where does everyone get their garlic from to plant? I would love to try growing it in containers myself.

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

We can plant 2 months before our first frost in CA since we don't always get an actual frost and the garlic just plows on (slowly) through the winter. I'm only about 40 miles from Gilroy, the "garlic capital of the world" and can reliably use the local farmer's market garlic for seed and get big healthy heads. What's weird is that some of it is hard-neck and that's unexpected, but it grows well here in Zone 10a.

[@lsherylc2524]

Hey garlic expert, if I’m up the road in Vacaville, when should I plant? Was going to do next week First time! Have both hard and soft.

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

@@lsherylc2524 I got mine in the ground this past week, so do it now! It should be ready to harvest around the summer equinox next year...long time but worth it.

[@missourigirl4101]

Great garlic info Luke! Thx!

[@susans5096]

I have fox farm ocean forest potting soil for in containers Do i need to add peat moss or vermiculite?

[@lauramehlenbacher457]

How many bulbs come in one head of garlic? I'm trying to figure how much I will need this fall. Tia

[@firequeen2194]

I planted 30 days before my first frost date but the weather has been so nutty that it’s started to have shoots break the surface. I hope they’re ok. Fingers crossed. First timer.

[@karenclement7903]

It will and it's fine.

[@mikecox3659]

I don't think the Link worked but I hope you get credit ... all the best from Arkansas!!!

[@spottedsparrowgardens9999]

Alot of good info i wasnt aware of! Thanks!

[@MIgardener]

Wooo! That’s awesome!

[@susanmortara2754]

Wait. You said plant 30 days before first frost, but then you said planting in October. Is first frost in Michigan really in November??? I was always told to plant in October (NE TN, zone 6b) but 30 days before frost would be mid September. Please guide. Now I'm not sure when to plant.

[@nancyswan7585]

Thank you so much for your reply. Very useful

[@user-qy5df7lf5j]

I wanted to tell you that your videos are so informative and helpful. I just bought my garlic for the first time this year. Of course it's MI Gardner garlic. I live in zone 9 in a desert and I have a real problem with ground squirrels and pocket Gophers. I decided to try growing my garlic in my garden tower. Since I don't normally get rain here in the high desert of California very often, I wasn't sure how much to water my garden tower. I'm glad I watched today for two reasons; amending the soil and mulching with pine shavings. I'm hoping this will truly help my garlic to grow this year if you have any advice on how often to water my garden tower it would be deeply appreciated. Thanks again for all the gardening help you've provided since I found your channel. Open.

[@MIgardener]

Happy garlic growing! Thanks for your support :)

[@Happy2Run4Me]

Do you water the garlic over the winter and spring while it’s dormant or do you leave it along until you see growth?

[@stephanieflowers2783]

I just made time to watch this video and, of course, I’ve already planted some of my garlic in a large container. I’m in GA 7b/8a. That said, I DID NOT put sulfur down but I did mulch heavily AFTER a couple of sprouts popped up. I’m a garlic newbie!!!! Is it too late to add the sulfur or can I peel back the mulch, sprinkle it in and throw it back on top??

[@79PoisonBreaker]

I am in zone 3 with a first frost date of Sept 20th. Planting garlic before frost date would give horrible results, you do not want any garlic to sprout before winter, it wastes bulb energy.

[@lebleubayou]

Hello Luke! Love your videos. We also are northerners, here in SE Wisconsin. I heavily invested In some good Northern varieties of garlic. Problem: there were a couple of family tragedies which prevented me from planting. Now it's Nov 24. If I plant my garlic anyway, what do you think will happen?

[@thaliabudai2013]

You should be fine if the soil isn't frozen.

[@JamieE76]

I always learn something new from your videos! I didn't know about the sulfur, so I will have to do that from now on. Thanks! :)

[@Taoss123KeyholeJourney]

When will you have more seed garlic available? Obviously, I am running late...

[@dtharge4082]

So the animal bedding goes over the plantings?

[@nanablue3748]

Planted garlic three years ago .. garlic keeps growing!! Now this year there are baby garlic patches. Wondering if I should leave them or dig and spread them out ??? Any advice??

[@yvencia1150]

Thank you for sharing 😊😊😊😊

[@megandaw5605]

Will the sulfur harm the tomatoes and basil they’re cross planted with?

[@Jonni8]

This video is great! I've learned so much. I'm really nervous being a first-time garlic planter and this is really helpful. I did buy some of the culinary garlic, oh well, life lesson. Living in zone 10A I'm thinking I'm going to have to water because we don't get too much rain or snow.

[@MIgardener]

Glad it was helpful! You have got this! Happy gardening :)

[@outwest100az]

Nice job but how often do you water the garlic?

[@bubbiemarie30]

If start early spring how long would take grow

[@Ashley_Loves_Softball]

First time garlic planter here... am I supposed to water my garlic throughout the winter??? I'm growing in grow bags.

[@RockTheCage55]

Being in MI do you grow both soft & hard neck garlic? I'm not nearly as north as you but i'm still in zone 5. Is there a difference in growing? I've heard maybe only hard neck in cold climates?

[@raizelschectman932]

Are you supposed to fertilize the garlic in the spring with liquid fertilizer

[@angelaraum1545]

This came in time for me to plant. I was watching a video from someome who has planted garlic for 30+yrs. They said to soak in a solution of baking soda, kelp & humic acid & water. You didn't meantion this. Do you do this? If not why?

[@justj_design]

Do you rotate where you grow your garlic each year or every so often? Or always plant it in that same bed? Does it really even matter if you're amending the soil with compost, etc each season? Each year I grow more than the last and it's one of my favorite crops to grow and give away to friends and family!

[@lsherylc2524]

How are folks watering ? Was going to use drip tape which has 6“ spacing holes - Should I still space 4” apart ? Will they get watered enough? I’m in 9B. No snow. Hard to know about rain. I’m in CA not Oregon or Washington 😅

[@susanvasquez3625]

If denser soil squeezes the bulb, keeping it small... but the plant is still putting the same energy into that bulb, does it make any difference in the flavor? I would guess that it might make it more intense like stressed pepper plants often make hotter peppers?

[@bibleaday154]

M.I., I have just gotten some aged elephant garlic. It is the first of May. Is it okay to plant now?

[@innerjon]

What kind of sulfur do you use?

[@nancyswan7585]

Does it matter if the protective leaf around the garlic clove is broken before you plant the clove.

[@douglaslinemanful]

I’ve had several that inadvertently became partially peeled while separating cloves and they grew just fine as far as I could tell. I think there is a chance it could become susceptible but not a certainty. I’ve talked to others that purposely peel them before planting and say it doesn’t matter. Which I respond with why do it then? Some people just want to be different I think.

[@user-zp6qg3qy5b]

Can you plant garlic in a container garden?

[@Theresamiller3]

Help please. You said to add sulfur, what kind? I am finding different types? This will be my first time trying to grow garlic. So a brand/ company name would be great. Please help